boston college conversation partner essay

How to Write the Boston College Supplemental Essays + Examples

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 11/8/23

Getting ready to write your Boston College supplemental essays? Read on to learn how to make your essays stand out!Hey, future Eagles!

Feeling stuck on your Boston College supplemental essays ? Unsure of where to start or what to share? This guide has got you covered! We’ll go over each Boston College supplemental essay, break down how to approach them, and provide you with winning examples to use as your muse!

Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Let’s begin with the basics: how many supplemental essays do you need for Boston College ? Fortunately, you’ll only need to answer one of the BC supplemental essays . You’ll be given the following five prompts to choose from:

“Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?”

“At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.”

“In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story ,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?”

“Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?”

Prompt #5 - HCE Applicants

“Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?”

These questions aim to get personal, which means you could probably ramble on and on about each of them if you had the chance. But here's the kicker: you have to keep your response to a maximum of 400 words! So, stay on point, keep it snappy, and get to the heart of what matters most. No room for rambling here!

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for Boston College

If you’re intimidated by these prompts and wondering how to write a fantastic college essay , you’re in the right place. Here’s how to ensure all of your BC supplemental essays are concise, compelling, and captivating! 

How to Write Boston College Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #1 : This prompt is focused on the importance of a shared text and how it fosters a sense of unity and understanding among incoming students. Boston College wants to see what kind of literature you consider good for fostering unity. 

This prompt also allows the admissions committee to learn more about your interests. The book you choose will say a lot about you! 

Follow these suggestions if you choose to respond to the first prompt:

• Tip #1: Choose the Right Book : Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to discuss a highly complex book to impress the admissions committee. Select a book that you truly believe would be a valuable shared text. Mention some themes or messages that you think could spark meaningful discussions. 
• Tip #2: Share Your Personal Connections to the Book : Show the admissions committee how this book has influenced your perspective. Why does this book resonate with you more than others? You might consider even starting your essay with one of your favorite lines in the book. 
• Tip #3: Connect to the University Convocation : End your essay by explaining how this book would contribute to a meaningful and engaging University Convocation experience. How would it inspire reflective dialogue among your incoming class? 

How to Write Boston College Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #2 : BC asks this prompt because they want to see a willingness to grow and to learn from other perspectives. A mark of a great student is a sense of humility and openness to listening to what others have to say. 

If you’ve had a few notable experiences where your beliefs were challenged, this could be a great prompt for you to respond to! Here are some tips to get you started: 

• Tip #1: Identify a Strong Conversation Partner : Think about a conversation that truly had an impact on you, not just someone disagreeing with your top horror movie choice. Who is someone in your life who has really challenged your perspective or brought fresh insights to the table?
• Tip #2: Be Vulnerable and Specific : Include details of your conversation with this person, including the thoughts and emotions you experienced. Don't shy away from discussing how this conversation challenged you. Were you initially resistant to their ideas? Did it force you to reevaluate your beliefs?
• Tip #3: Share Your Insights : Show the reader how this conversation impacted you. Did it open your mind to new possibilities? Did you gain a deeper understanding of yourself or the world around you? Be authentic and express the lessons you learned from this experience.

How to Write Boston College Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #3 : This prompt deals with the impact of making assumptions. This essay asks you to get personal and describe an instance where you faced prejudice of some kind. By asking this, BC wants to see how you have overcome obstacles as well as how you align with their values of diversity. 

If this prompt interests you, here are some tips on how to answer it: 

• Tip #1: Consider Watching the TED Talk : While you don’t have to watch the TED Talk referenced in this essay prompt, doing so can inspire you and help you brainstorm. You may even want to quote the speaker within your own essay to show you went above and beyond by watching the TED Talk. 
• Tip #2: Stay Humble : Feel free to share in detail about the prejudice you faced and how it affected you, as well as how you broke free from the single narrative. However, be sure not to display arrogance or a superiority complex. Focus on your own growth and the importance of diversity instead.
• Tip #3: Connect to BC : Connect your story to Boston College's values of embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity. Express your eagerness to continue these conversations at BC and learn from a community that values every person's unique narrative.

How to Write Boston College Supplemental Essay #4 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #4 : This prompt integrates the history of Boston College with the issues facing the world today. BC wants to see that you are committed to the same values as they are; namely, fighting for social issues and using education to address needs that are prevalent in the world. 

Let’s tackle how to respond to this fourth prompt:

• Tip #1: Choose an Issue Close to Your Heart : If you choose an issue that you’re genuinely passionate about, it will be far easier to write this essay! Admissions committees can always tell when applicants are being authentic, so if you choose a topic you truly care about, your passion will shine through.
• Tip #2: Connect to BC’s Founding Values : This prompt specifically asks you to connect back to BC’s roots. Show how BC's founding mission resonates with your desire to make a difference in the world and emphasize how your BC education will enable you to continue this legacy.
• Tip #3: Demonstrate Your Commitment : Discuss why this issue is so important to you and share your specific vision of how you'll engage with the issue both on and off campus. Highlight any volunteer work, advocacy, or initiatives you've been involved in related to the issue to demonstrate your dedication to change. 

How to Write Boston College Supplemental Essay #5 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #5 : This prompt is somewhat similar to prompt #4, as it asks students to analyze. However, as this prompt is specific to HCE applicants, that means that Boston College is looking for specific responses regarding the HCE program. BC wants to see your passion and why you truly want to study HCE. 

Here are some tips to tackle this prompt: 

• Tip #1: Pinpoint Your Passion : Identify the specific societal problems that ignite your passion. Considering this is a question for engineering, the issue you choose should be related to this field. Explain why these issues are meaningful to you and share any personal experiences or encounters with them. 
• Tip #2: Be Specific : Highlight how Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College perfectly aligns with your goals. Share any relevant projects or initiatives you’ve been a part of, especially leadership experiences, related to your chosen issue. Describe innovative engineering approaches you envision tackling at BC. 
• Tip #3: Tie It to the Common Good : Connect your solutions to the Jesuit value of serving the Common Good. Explain how your Human-Centered Engineering education will empower you to serve society and create a positive impact.

Examples of Boston College Supplemental Essays That Worked

There’s no better way to grasp how to write the Boston College supplemental essays than to learn by example! Here are some sample essays written by admitted students at Boston College. 

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?”

Take a look at this example essay responding to prompt #1: 

"‘A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up for anything.’ This compelling quote from ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini serves as a poignant reminder of the valuable lesson this book imparts to students.

As students, we often encounter challenges, both academically and personally. This book can remind us of the powerful significance of advocating for our beliefs and values. By learning to assert ourselves and confront our fears, we cultivate the confidence and resilience necessary to address societal issues and make positive contributions to our communities.

Consequently, for our incoming class at University Convocation, I wholeheartedly recommend ‘The Kite Runner’ as our shared text. This novel takes readers on an emotional journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and redemption. Through Amir's experiences, we learn the importance of standing up for ourselves and others, even in the face of adversity.

‘The Kite Runner’ not only inspires self-reflection but also fosters empathy and understanding. The novel delves into cultural complexities, providing a window into Afghanistan's history and the impact of personal choices on individuals and society. As we engage in reflective dialogue during University Convocation, this shared text will encourage open discussions about diverse perspectives, nurturing a more inclusive and compassionate community.

Moreover, Khaled Hosseini's masterful storytelling captivated me, evoking emotions and allowing me to build connections with the characters. This shared experience can unite our class, forging a shared bond that extends beyond the pages of the book.

As we embark on our exciting academic journey, ‘The Kite Runner’ will serve as a timeless reminder of the value of empathy, resilience, and the power of standing up for what we believe in. It will inspire us to be active participants in shaping a more just and compassionate world, embodying the Jesuit values that Boston College holds dear.”

Why Essay #1 Works

This BC supplemental essay response works for several reasons. It begins with a compelling hook - a powerful quote from "The Kite Runner" - that immediately captures the reader's attention and sets the tone for the essay's central theme. 

The student then demonstrates a genuine and personal connection to the book by discussing academic and personal challenges. The essay highlights the importance of advocating for beliefs and values and explicitly connects the book's lessons to Boston College’s Jesuit values, showing their alignment with the university's mission.

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : “At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.”

Take a look at this sample essay for some inspiration: 

“‘It’s murder—plain and simple,’ my best friend Emily proclaimed with unwavering conviction. 

With a fiery passion for justice and a fierce dedication to her beliefs, Emily is never afraid to challenge the status quo and speak her mind. As such, we’ve always had lively discussions on various topics, but one particular conversation stands out vividly in my memory. 

In our sophomore year, we were discussing a news article detailing the story of a terminally ill patient who had opted for medical assistance to end their life peacefully. As a staunch advocate for individual autonomy and the right to make end-of-life decisions, I expressed my support for medical-assisted dying, believing that it offers compassionate choices for those facing unbearable suffering.

However, Emily's bold statement gave me pause. I respected her deeply-held beliefs, but I felt the need to question her stance and challenge her perspective and the broader implications of prohibiting medical-assisted dying altogether. I highlighted the anguish that some terminally ill patients might experience when they are denied the choice to control the manner and timing of their death. I also stressed the importance of compassionate end-of-life care, including palliative options, to ensure that individuals facing terminal illnesses have the support they need to make informed decisions.

As our conversation evolved, Emily's arguments made me pause and reflect on the complexity of the issue. While I still valued individual autonomy and compassion, her viewpoints challenged me to consider the potential unintended consequences of medical-assisted dying and the importance of striking a delicate balance between individual choice and societal well-being.

Throughout this conversation, Emily and I maintained a deep respect for each other's beliefs and approached the topic with an openness to learn from one another. The experience taught me the value of engaging in conversations with worthwhile partners who challenge my views, as it broadens my understanding of complex issues and helps me become a more empathetic and well-informed individual.

As I embark on my new journey at Boston College, I will embrace my role as a conversation partner, and support and challenge myself to have a more profound understanding of the world around me. Keeping with the Jesuit tradition Boston College embodies, I look forward to conversing with all intellectual partners I’ll meet at BC, as we collectively strive to enhance our empathy, wisdom, and social consciousness.” 

Why Essay #2 Works

The essay shares a specific and vivid memory of a conversation between the student and Emily during their sophomore year, adding depth and authenticity to the essay. It delves into a complex and controversial issue, demonstrating the student's ability to engage in thoughtful discussions on important societal matters.

This essay also showcases the student's willingness to consider alternative viewpoints, highlighting their intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness. The student then explicitly connects their essay to the BC’s Jesuit tradition, emphasizing the importance of engaging in meaningful conversations to enhance empathy and wisdom. 

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : “In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story ,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?”

Here is a great example of an essay responding to Adichie’s Ted Talk: 

“Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Ted Talk on ‘The Danger of a Single Story’ struck a chord with me, as I've personally experienced being defined by a single narrative. During my high school years, I relocated to a new town, and my accent immediately labeled me as ‘the foreign kid.’ People assumed I couldn't speak English fluently and knew nothing about their culture, reducing my identity to a mere stereotype.

This presented several challenges. I felt the constant need to prove myself, academically and socially, and struggled to fit in and be accepted. The isolation and misunderstanding affected my confidence and made it difficult to connect with others.

However, I was determined not to be confined by that single narrative. I actively immersed myself in clubs and extracurricular activities, striving to showcase my multifaceted self. By participating and engaging in conversations, I revealed my diverse experiences, perspectives, and passions. Gradually, I noticed a change in how people perceived me. They began to see beyond the initial assumptions and recognize my individuality. 

Overcoming these challenges required time and resilience. I learned the value of asserting my voice and sharing my authentic stories, which allowed others to understand me beyond the surface level. Breaking free from the constraints of the single story empowered me to build better connections and find like-minded individuals who appreciated me for my true self.

My experience of being defined by a single story during my high school years has had a lasting impact on my outlook and values, which align closely with the principles upheld by Boston College. Boston College's commitment to a Jesuit education, founded on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, resonates with my journey of breaking free from stereotypes and embracing diverse narratives.

Adichie's Ted Talk holds even greater significance now, as I'm reminded of the importance of avoiding simplistic judgments about others based on appearances or backgrounds. I understand the power of embracing diverse narratives and perspectives, fostering empathy, and recognizing the richness that each individual brings to the table.”

Why Essay #3 Works

The student first demonstrates a connection to the Ted Talk and then shares a vulnerable personal experience of being defined by a single narrative during their high school years, making the essay authentic and compelling. The essay demonstrates the author’s resilience by describing how they overcame various challenges.

The essay also effectively connects the student’s experience to Boston College’s principles, emphasizing the alignment with the university’s commitment to a Jesuit education. The student reflects on the lasting impact of their experience, showing depth of thought and self-awareness and how it aligns with Boston College's values.

Sample Essay #4

Prompt : “Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?”

Take a look at this sample essay discussing the issue of climate change: 

“The magnitude of climate change requires comprehensive and collaborative efforts from individuals, communities, and institutions. As a student at Boston College, I aspire to leverage my education to address this critical global issue and contribute to sustainable solutions.

While I already volunteer at my local recycling facility, participate in beach clean-up events, and am an executive member of my school’s environmental club, I plan on doing even more at Boston College and beyond. First, I intend to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies, combining scientific knowledge with social and policy perspectives. Through interdisciplinary coursework, research opportunities, and engagement with faculty, I aim to develop a deep understanding of the complexities of climate change and its multifaceted implications.

Beyond the academic realm, Boston College's commitment to fostering a caring and inclusive community aligns perfectly with my vision of creating positive change. By actively participating in student-led environmental organizations and joining forces with like-minded peers, I hope to cultivate a vibrant campus environment that values sustainability and collective action.

Moreover, I will have access to valuable internships and networking opportunities that will enable me to collaborate with organizations dedicated to environmental conservation and advocacy. By interning with environmental NGOs and participating in climate-related policy discussions, I hope to contribute to impactful projects and support the creation of policies that drive positive change.

Climate change, as a global issue, requires collaboration and engagement on an international scale. Boston College's global perspective will offer me the chance to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, enriching my understanding of environmental challenges across different regions and cultures. By embracing this multicultural environment, I can foster a broader perspective and contribute to innovative solutions that transcend borders.

By pursuing an education in Environmental Studies, actively engaging in student-led initiatives, advocating for sustainable policies, and embracing Boston College's inclusive community, I hope to make a meaningful contribution to addressing climate change and shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for all. With the support and resources provided by Boston College, I am confident in my ability to make a lasting impact in the fight against climate change and fulfill my commitment to addressing society's greatest needs.”

Why Essay #4 Works

In this essay, this student gets very specific, providing concrete examples of their current involvement in environmental initiatives and outlining their plan to continue making a difference at BC, adding credibility to their commitment. The student also demonstrates confidence and ambition in their commitment to addressing society’s needs.

With a strong emphasis on collaboration and collective action, the student shows an understanding of the need for comprehensive efforts to tackle climate change. They also convey a strong passion for making a positive impact, leaving an impression as a driven, socially conscious, and ambitious individual.

Sample Essay #5

Prompt : “One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?” 

Here is an example you can use to get started on your HCE essay: 

“In a world that faces ever-evolving societal challenges, I am deeply drawn to the field of Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) for its potential to enact positive change and serve the common good. As a prospective HCE student at Boston College, I am committed to using my education to address two critical societal problems that are of utmost importance to me: healthcare accessibility and sustainable infrastructure development.

First and foremost, healthcare accessibility remains a pressing concern globally. Many communities, particularly in underserved regions, lack adequate access to essential healthcare services. I am determined to use my HCE education to bridge this gap and improve healthcare delivery systems for vulnerable populations.

Drawing on the technical knowledge and humanistic perspective emphasized in the HCE program, I aspire to design and implement innovative healthcare solutions. By collaborating with healthcare professionals and community members, I aim to develop technologies and systems that are tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by these communities. Whether it be telemedicine solutions to reach remote areas or the development of affordable medical devices, I envision contributing to the improvement of healthcare accessibility and making a tangible impact on people's lives.

Integrating the principles of sustainability and creativity into my engineering solutions, I seek to minimize the ecological footprint of infrastructure projects. I plan to advocate for the adoption of renewable energy sources and the implementation of green building practices. By prioritizing environmentally friendly technologies and materials, I aim to contribute to the creation of resilient and sustainable urban environments that harmonize with nature rather than deplete it.

Boston College's emphasis on serving the common good aligns perfectly with my vision for using HCE to tackle these societal problems. Additionally, the Jesuit values of social responsibility and ethical leadership will guide me in my professional journey.

I am eager to take advantage of Boston College's resources and engage in service-oriented initiatives to implement real-world solutions and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

Why Essay #5 Works

This essay appropriately focuses strongly on the HCE program and demonstrates the student’s passion for the possibilities found in HCE. The student provides concrete examples of how they plan to use their HCE education to make a difference and demonstrates a well-rounded awareness of global issues. 

The applicant also references the Jesuit values that BC holds and articulates how Boston College's resources and service-oriented initiatives will support the student in implementing real-world solutions. This emphasizes a strong fit between the student's aspirations and the university's offerings.

Get More Sample Essays Here! 

If reading these essays was helpful for you, good news! You can get inspired by tons of sample supplemental essays using our extensive essay database down below. 

FAQs: Boston College Essays

You can find the answers to any remaining questions about the Boston College supplemental essays below:

1. How Many Supplemental Essays Do I Need for Boston College?

You only need to write one Boston College supplemental essay, but you will be given five prompts to choose from.

2. How Long Should Boston College Essays Be?

Your BC supplemental essay should not exceed 400 words. Having said that, you also do not need to meet this maximum. Aim for quality over quantity. Ensure you answer the prompt completely, but do not add any fluff to make your response longer, as it will only reduce the efficacy of your writing.

Final Thoughts

Remember, the Boston College supplemental essays provide an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and aspirations. Share meaningful insights, experiences, and how your goals align with Boston College's values. 

Make a strong impression, take your time, edit diligently, and let your passion and intellect shine through!

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Boston College is a Jesuit private research university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College is located a short distance from Downtown Boston which makes it an extremely desirable place to learn. Therefore, BC’s acceptance rate is around 19%, meaning your application will really need to stand out! In order to apply, students must complete one of the five prompt options for the BC supplemental essays. 

Here’s our guide for how to ace the Boston College supplemental essay questions!

Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Before answering the BC supplemental essays

All Boston College applicants, should respond to one of the following four prompts except for those applying for the Human-Centered Engineering major. Those applying for the Human-Centered Engineering major will need to reply to ONLY the fifth Boston College essay question. 

All of the Boston College supplemental essay questions have a 400 word limit . 400 words may sound like a lot but once you start writing you will realize that getting your personality on the page will take a few more words than 400. Do not stress! This just means you will have to be precise and direct with your answers. Do not drag on or use filler words! Just remember to be yourself in your response. 

Don’t miss: How to respond to the Common App essay prompts

Essay option #1

“Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?”

If you are a bookworm this is the prompt for you! This prompt is an opportunity to be creative in your response. 

Before answering this prompt – brainstorm! What book has impacted your life to this day? You should try to choose a work of literature that has sparked something inside of you. Meaning, choose a book that has given you valuable insight or changed your outlook on life. I know the second you read this prompt you had a book in mind so don’t hesitate to write about it! 

However, since this prompt is allowing for creative freedom try to choose a unique book. Refrain from choosing a novel such as Harry Potter since it is extremely popular and will probably be written about a lot by applicants. (Even though the Harry Potter series is one of my favorites.) 

Although, if you are dying to choose an extremely popular book or a classic make sure to then write from a new and different perspective or take. Once you have selected a book, go into detail about how it has impacted your life. This should go without saying but choose a book you have read and are familiar with! Emphasize why it would be a good fit for your class to read. What will your fellow peers learn from this novel? 

Questions to consider

• What is your favorite book? 
• How would Boston College benefit from reading this book? 
• How has this book influenced your outlooks? 

Don’t miss: Top 10 books to read before college

Essay option #2

“At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.”

I know once you read this prompt you immediately thought of someone. So who was it? Who do you talk to about anything? 

Once you have identified your favorite conversation partner, write a brief few sentences about them. How do you know them? Are they related to you? 

Now, you should reflect on past conversations you have had with this person. What do you usually talk about?

To stand out from other responses, do not simply list everything you and this person have ever talked about. Rather, find a common theme in your conversations. Maybe you always talk about music with them or maybe they act as your therapist when you are having relationship issues. 

Be sure to reflect on this person and your conversations. What have you learned from them? Emphasize how crucial conversations are. Stress how finding that right person to have a conversation with is so important. 

• Who do you have the best conversations with? 
• What do you learn from your conversations with this person? 
• How are conversations important for fixing problems in society? 

Don’t miss: What to include on college applications

Essay option #3

“In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story, ” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?” 

To begin this prompt, brainstorm things someone may assume about you. Although being stereotyped or discussing racial or ethnic diversity is a great thing to do here, you can also discuss other aspects of your appearance or background. Some examples could include being labeled a dumb blonde or being assumed you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community due to a pin on your backpack. Detail this challenge in a story format to allow the admissions committee to truly understand how this experience made you feel. 

Whatever your challenge is, the most important thing in this response is that you describe how you have overcome them. Focus most of your response on this part of the prompt. Be sure to focus on how you were emotionally and mentally impacted by this challenge to demonstrate your resilience and ability to overcome a difficult situation. Remember to be as detailed as possible! The admissions committee wants to see what you did and most importantly why you did.

Lastly, for some brownie points, finish your response by connecting what you have learned back to Boston College! Describe what you have learned from this experience and what you hope to take with you on your next academic journey. In fact, try to describe specific aspects of Boston College that you will take advantage of. For example, perhaps there’s a BC club for minorities similar to you and you know you want to be a part of people who understand the challenges you’ve been through because of your minority status. 

Ultimately, make sure your response comes full circle! This will show the admissions committee your train of thought and see what you will bring to the BC community. 

• What is an assumption someone has made about you? 
• How do you overcome tough challenges? 
• How has your personality been shaped by your experiences? 

Don’t miss: How to write an essay about yourself

Essay option #4

“Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?”

If you are an activist, this is the prompt for you! Think about a local or global issue that you are extremely passionate about. This could be anything from recycling to a more controversial opinion. Make sure you are picking a topic you truly are interested and passionate about – it does not have to be a world-changing issue, all that matters is that your passion is there! However, try to avoid choosing a broad topic such as world hunger rather you should narrow it down. 

Next, you should describe your connection to the issue. Why is this issue important to you? What have you done to support this cause? Whatever your connection to the issue, make sure that you are highlighting your passion and concern for the cause as well as why you are passionate about this issue. 

Lastly, connect back to BC! Research and describe aspects of BC that align in some way to the issue you were discussing. Try and name specific professors, classes, clubs, etc that you are excited to interact with and why. Make sure you are describing how BC will better your fight for justice and how you will better your BC community. 

Tips for responding to this prompt

• Avoid triggering responses such as detailing extreme violence.
• Do not write about anything incriminating to yourself.
• Be specific! Write about specific protests attended or organizations you supported.
• Remember even the smallest change you were a part of can have big impacts.
• Do not write about stereotypes. (unless you are discussing overcoming them) 
• Exercise best judgment when using certain language. 

Related: How to write a 500 word essay

Essay option #5 (For human-centered engineering applicants only)

“One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?”

This essay prompt is essentially asking you to explain how you will use an engineering degree from Boston College to serve the “Common Good.” 

To begin, research the Human-Centered Engineering program at Boston College. What programs and aspects of the program stick out to you? 

After familiarizing yourself with their program, now brainstorm a societal problem facing us right now. Try to narrow it down to one issue.

Focus on an issue that has a personal impact. For example, maybe solar electricity is not used widely in your community and you would like to see that transition. By using your own experiences, you can make your response stronger and reveal pieces of your personality. 

If you are struggling to pick a problem, the Human-Centered Engineering website has some examples you can choose from. 

Throughout this essay, make sure to tie back to how the programs at Boston College can help you solve this main problem. Be sure to include specifics about the program that can only be found at Boston College. 

• Why are you interested in engineering? 
• What issues do you find most important? 
• How can engineering aid these issues? 

Also see: Top Massachusetts scholarships

What makes Boston College unique?

When applying to any school, it’s a good idea to learn about what makes them unique before you start writing your supplemental essays. Once you find the unique characteristics about a school, you can describe the ones that interest you the most and explain why you will find success at a school that offers these features. This demonstrates your interest in and commitment to the school as well as your potential to perform well if admitted. Here are a couple of unique characteristics about Boston College that can help you write your best essays possible.

Being located in the Boston area is a major factor in the experience of students at BC. Boston is a huge city which is home to a wide range of prestigious universities. So, you’ll be in a bustling city full of other people your age receiving great college educations. You can write about how you are prepared to take advantage of this resource by visiting museums, utilizing city libraries, applying for internships, and more.

The Disney Class

One of Boston College’s most famous courses is the Disney Class . This course, officially titled, Studies in Children’s Literature, goes in-depth on the stories behind major Disney films throughout the history of the company, including how they changed popular fairy tales to create marketable movies. Professor Bonnie Rudner teaches the class, and adamant Disney fans and critics will both find something interesting from the course and learn to contextualize these canonical movies in a whole new light.

Impressive philosophy department

Boston College is especially renowned for its philosophy department, known for pushing barriers and including extensive coursework in the field of continental philosophy. Several faculty members at the college are well-known around the world, including prominent Heidegger scholar William J Richardson .

Next steps after applying to Boston College

So that’s what you should know about the BC supplemental essays! Now that the hard part is over and your application is flawless and submitted – take a deep breath! Congratulations, you did it! The hard part is now over! 

Continue to show demonstrated interest in Boston College so they know you are committed and prioritizing their school (even if you have a few other top choices.) 

This can be done by:

• following their social media accounts
• reaching out to admissions officers
• scheduling an in-person or virtual tour
• reading up on what you want to get involved in on campus 

Essentially, showing interest and staying connected will allow you to get that extra foot in the door and make your name known. Exploring your interest in Boston College will also help solidify if it is the best university for you. 

Additional resources

As a student working on college applications, you’ve got a lot on your plate. There are many decisions to make along every step of the way – fortunately, we can help you through them. Check out our guides on how many schools to apply to and how to find safety, reach, and match schools .

If you’re wondering whether to send test scores to test-optional schools , we’ve got a guide for that as well. And once you start hearing back, we can help you create a college comparison spreadsheet to make your college choice. Finally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help fund your education and keep all of your college options open. Good luck!

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Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

A private liberal arts college in the town of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Boston College is ranked among America’s top 50 colleges by U.S. News. This top school has secured a place on many college lists due to its urban location and world-class academics. If you’re wondering how to get into Boston College, a standout application starts with well-crafted Boston College supplemental essays. 

Successful Boston College applications feature strong Boston College essays—just one, to be exact. Boston College supplemental essays respond to one of five Boston College essay prompts. We have provided the Boston College essay prompts for 2023-2024 Boston College essays below.

Here, you’ll learn how to approach the Boston College essay prompts, plus some brainstorming exercises to help you get writing. We’ll also discuss additional tips for writing Boston College supplemental essays.

Given the low Boston College acceptance rate, you should do all you can to stand out. We hope this guide helps you learn how to approach the Boston College supplemental essays with confidence.

Quick Facts: Boston College Supplemental Essays

• Boston College Acceptance Rate: 19%— U.S. News ranks Boston College as a most selective school.
• 1 (400-word) essay
• Boston College application: Boston College admissions accepts the Common Application , which includes both your personal statement and your Boston College essay. Boston College is also part of Questbridge .
• #1 Boston College Essays Tip: You should read the Boston College essay prompts carefully, choosing one you can answer thoroughly in your Boston College essays. This will maximize your chances against the relatively low Boston College acceptance rate.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

Does Boston College require a supplemental essay?

Yes. Along with your Common App personal statement , you must complete one of five possible Boston College supplemental essays.

To complete the Boston College essays, you will select just one of several Boston College essay prompts. However, while you’ll only complete one supplementary essay, that doesn’t mean Boston College cares any less about your supplements. In fact, students’ responses to the Boston College essay prompts play a critical role in admissions decisions. 

Boston College admissions uses a holistic application review process. In other words, extracurriculars, academic achievements, and Boston College essays all impact a student’s admissions prospects. While the low Boston College acceptance rate might seem intimidating , well-crafted Boston College supplemental essays can make a huge difference.

The power of a single essay

The Boston College application isn’t necessarily easier just because there’s a single essay. After all, how hard was it to write your Common App personal statement? Even choosing one of the Boston College essay prompts can be challenging.

To start your writing process, think critically about the prompts available. Which of the Boston College essay prompts speaks to you? Moreover, can you write a compelling essay in response? Well-written Boston College supplemental essays come from carefully selected prompts. Students should write Boston College essays that reflect their most impactful moments of self-realization and personal growth. 

Not sure how to start writing your Boston College essays? Keep reading to learn more about Boston College admissions, including tips on how to approach Boston College essays and overcome the Boston College acceptance rate.

What are the Boston College essay prompts?

Students have options when it comes to the Boston College supplemental essays. There are five Boston College essay prompts to choose from for the 2023-2024 application cycle (400 words or less):

Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts:

1. each year at university convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. what book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text , 2. at boston college, we draw upon the jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. who fulfills this role in your life please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs., 3. in her november 2019 ted talk, “ the danger of a single story ,” chimamanda ngozi adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. what challenges did this present and how did you overcome them, 4. boston college’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. that call came from an immigrant community in boston seeking a jesuit education to foster social mobility. still today, the university empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your boston college education to address it, 5. for human-centered engineering major applicants only: one goal of a jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the common good. human-centered engineering at boston college integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. what societal problems are important to you and how will you use your hce education to solve them, choosing a prompt.

Aside from applicants for the Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) major, everyone should respond to one of the Boston College essay prompts. Students applying to the HCE major must respond only to the last of the Boston College essay prompts. So, students will just write two Boston College essays in their application: one school-specific supplemental essay and the Common App personal essay. 

The first step towards completing Boston College supplemental essays is to review each of the Boston College essay prompts. So, let’s examine the Boston College essay prompts and the questions you’ll need to answer in your response. We’ll also provide some reflection questions for each of the Boston College essay prompts. 

Refer to these questions as you’re drafting your Boston College essays. These prompt-specific reflection questions will help keep you on track as you draft and revise. 

Boston College Essay Prompts #1

Each year at university convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. what book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text.

The first of the Boston College essay prompts asks you to choose a book you’d like to share with your peers. Strong Boston College supplemental essays will recommend a book that embodies the tradition of Boston College’s First Year Academic Convocation . This event asks students to reflect upon their faith and engage in conversation with others. However, this doesn’t mean that Boston College supplemental essays must focus on a religious text. Instead, simply choose a text that speaks to how you engage with the world.

Books for these Boston College supplemental essays should be rich enough to spark and support a deep discussion. After all, the most important part of these Boston College essays is not which book you choose, but why. So, what important questions does this book raise, and how would you investigate them with your peers?

Drafting your response

If you are having trouble narrowing down your book selection, take a look at Boston College’s past common texts. Consider why they were chosen and why your book matters to you. How can you include admirable qualities in Boston College supplemental essays?

However, be sure that if you decide to respond to the first of the Boston College supplemental essays, you fulfill the requirements. That means that you must choose a book by a living author. By adding this requisite to the prompt, students are forced to choose a book that is likely more relevant to current societal issues. So, use this opportunity to choose a book that truly means something to you and show why it’s important to share with your peers. How has it impacted you? Moreover, what might your peers gain from reading it? 

Reflection Questions for Boston College Essays

• Do you choose a book that you genuinely enjoy and wish to share?
• Does your chosen book reflect the values behind the First Year Academic Convocation?
• Do you provide a compelling argument for why this book is worthy of discussion?

Boston College Essay Prompt #2

At boston college, we draw upon the jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. who fulfills this role in your life please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs..

Boston College supplemental essays responding to the second prompt will talk about a favorite conversation partner. Strong Boston College supplemental essays show the author engages deeply with their world and share that engagement with others. While some Boston College essay prompts ask about your engagement with Boston College resources, this prompt centers around how you think and express your beliefs.

Boston College supplemental essays answering the second of the Boston College essay prompts must reflect on a specific conversation and conversation partner. The prompt offers you two approaches: show a moment you challenged another’s perspective or one when your perspective was challenged.

Of course, make sure to choose a conversation where this happened. Basically, don’t choose a moment in which you had a beautiful conversation with zero disagreement or discussion. A well-written response to the second of the Boston College essay prompts will show how you eloquently supported or discussed your perspective. You could also write about how your perspective changed through a meaningful discussion. 

Choosing your topic

When considering who to write about, think about who shares difficult discussions with you. Sure, you might love talking to your friend about your favorite TV show. But would you talk with them about the social problems that make your palms itch? In addition, think about what your discussions with this person says about you and your reasoning skills.

These Boston College supplemental essays should still center around you, the author. Before choosing a prompt for any essay, consider whether you have a personal connection that you can write about. In this case, the discussion needs to be meaningful while also fully answering the prompt. 

One important question to consider for the second of the Boston College essay prompts is: can you answer the prompt directly and adequately while keeping yourself at its center? The same applies when considering any of the Boston College essay prompts.

Once again, remember that good Boston College supplemental essays center around the author. Whoever you write about, don’t spend too much time describing that person. Rather, focus on the ideas you discuss, the dynamics of your conversation, and how it inspires your own reflection. Show the Boston College admissions team that you’re a critical thinker who engages deeply with those around you.

• Do your Boston College essays address both your partner and what you discussed in a specific conversation?
• Do you keep yourself—not your conversation partner—at the center of your essay?
• Does your essay show that you enjoy critical thinking and in-depth discussion about complex subjects?

Boston College Essay Prompt #3

In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story ,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

The third of the Boston College supplemental essays may seem similar to other college essays you’ve encountered. It’s a unique spin on the diversity and culture essay. In the third of the Boston College essay prompts, students are asked to recall a moment in their lives when they’ve been boxed into a “single story.”

As the prompt mentions, students might discuss themes like nationality, appearance, or background. However, the term “single story” leaves things quite open-ended. Students could choose to respond using any instance in which they’ve been defined or judged by a certain label or visible aspect. 

Remember that like all of the other Boston College supplemental essays, your response should focus on you and your personal growth. So, while the moment itself is important, what’s more important is your learning from that experience. Successful responses to the third of the Boston College essay prompts will briefly describe the moment when the student was placed in a particular box. Then, they’ll focus on how the student reacted and moved forward from the situation. 

Preparing to respond

Additionally, it would be wise to actually watch this particular TED Talk if you choose to respond to this prompt. Your Boston College supplemental essays will benefit from inspiration. After watching the TED Talk, you’ll have a better understanding of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s main point. That way, you’ll know how to use Adichie’s ideas to contextualize your own experiences. 

Like some of the other Boston College essay prompts, this question asks you to show the Boston College admissions team that you think deeply and critically about yourself and the world around you. Effective Boston College supplemental essays should address how your own thinking and reflection changed based on the experience. How did being defined as a “single story” affect you? Try to make connections between your experience, your realization, and how it changed you.

• Is your “single story” experience clearly defined?
• Do you expand on how being labeled a certain way impacted you?
• Is it clear how you’ve personally grown from the experience? What realizations were made, and how will they impact your future?

Boston College Essay Prompt #4

Boston college’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. that call came from an immigrant community in boston seeking a jesuit education to foster social mobility. still today, the university empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your boston college education to address it.

Boston College supplemental essays for the fourth of our Boston College essay prompts have to discuss a personally important societal issue. So, your response should consider society as a whole–locally or globally. Whatever issue you choose, make sure it is something that an education at Boston College can help answer.

Connect your chosen issue to specific departments, learning styles, school values, or aspects of the Boston College community. These should have come up while you were searching for colleges and researching Boston College. This will help demonstrate why Boston College is the best place for you to explore your curiosities.

Once again, strong Boston College supplemental essays are both specific with the features they highlight and personal in connecting them to the author. So, use this prompt to highlight what makes your perspective unique.

Keep it personal

However, don’t get too hung up on trying to describe Boston College and its offerings. At the end of the day, once again, effective Boston College supplemental essays are about the author. The question you discuss should help the Boston College admissions team learn something important about you. How will you engage with opportunities and communities on campus to address the societal issue at hand?

• Do you clearly state a problem and why it matters to you?
• Strong Boston College supplemental essays give specific details about the school: do you show that you did your research?
• Do you connect facts or features of the school with your interests and background?
• Do you present new information not included elsewhere in your Boston College application? If not, do you expand on something you’ve mentioned before?

Boston College Essay Prompt #6

For Human-Centered Engineering major applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

The fifth of the Boston College essay prompts asks about problems you are passionate about solving. Impactful Boston College supplemental essays focus on societal issues—in other words, conditions or behaviors with wide-reaching negative consequences. This might include poverty, racism, or climate change. Boston College supplemental essays should be genuine and passionate; choose an issue you’re really concerned about.

These Boston College supplemental essays should reflect, in specific terms, why this issue matters to you. As with all strong Boston college essays, give concrete reasoning and use specific examples. Moreover, make sure to tie your argument to your own experiences or values. Readers of these Boston College supplemental essays should understand exactly why and how deeply the author cares.

Do your research

The last of the Boston College essay prompts asks how your HCE education will help you solve these issues. These Boston College essays, therefore, share some qualities with a “Why Boston College” essay.

So, do your research. Check out the HCE Program page to learn about the structure, curriculum, and unique features HCE offers students. What puts this program over other colleges on your list? Remember, applicants outside of Human-Centered Engineering applicants should answer other Boston College essay prompts.

By integrating specific facts about Boston College’s HCE program into your response, you can show the Boston College admissions team you’ve done your research. This can give your Boston College application an edge, especially given the low Boston College acceptance rate. 

• Are you applying for the HCE program? If not, you must choose one of the other Boston College essay prompts.
• Effective Boston College supplemental essays are direct: do you state clearly the societal issue you care about?
• Similar to the first of our Boston College essay prompts, do you give concrete examples of HCE resources?

Selecting a prompt & drafting your Boston College essay

So, after reading the Boston College essay prompts, it’s time to choose. Which one speaks to you? Of the Boston College essay prompts, yours should best showcase you and why you’re a good fit at Boston College. If you’re stuck between several Boston College essay prompts, you might try your hand at a ten-minute free-write .

You should also highlight why Boston College is a good fit for you. Why is it on your college list ? At the end of the day, you’re the one who’ll ultimately accept an offer and attend. Why do you feel Boston College is a place you want to be? Whichever one of the Boston College essay prompts you select, ensure you can answer every part of it. 

Starting the writing process

Once you’ve read the Boston College essay prompts and selected yours, it’s time to start writing. Sitting down and writing your first draft is the hardest part. So, don’t worry about making your Boston College supplemental essays perfect—just focus on getting words on paper. In fact, you might draft several Boston College supplemental essays for different Boston College essay prompts. That’s fine, too!

Start by addressing the big ideas, then go back and make sure you’ve answered the Boston College essay prompts entirely. Then, you can start fine-tuning your Boston College supplemental essays. Review each paragraph—does every part of your Boston College essays connect to you, your worldview, or your beliefs? Remember, effective Boston College supplemental essays put the author and their passions or interests at the center.

Last, but certainly not least, make time to review your Boston College essays thoroughly. Do you have any spelling or grammar mistakes that might distract your reader from the content of your essay? Do you have any logical errors or awkward turns of phrase? Revising—not just drafting—is the key to impactful, unique Boston College supplemental essays. So, the more your revise, the stronger your essays will be. You can also ask a trusted adult to help review your essay.

How do I write the Boston College supplemental essay?

Boston College supplemental essays show Boston College admissions what kind of student you are and what kind you can become. Moreover, the low Boston College acceptance rate makes standout Boston College supplemental essays even more important. However, don’t let the Boston College acceptance rate scare you. Just as there isn’t one formula to impress Boston College admissions, there isn’t one correct way to write Boston College supplemental essays.

Before beginning your Boston College application, consider experiences that have shaped who you are and how you see the world. Reflect on your accomplishments, the challenges you’ve faced, your successes, and your failures. While the low Boston College acceptance rate might seem discouraging, you can create a Boston College application that stands out .

Getting started

Before tackling Boston College essays, brainstorm two lists: things that are and aren’t reflected on your Boston College application. Experiences related to your classes or extracurriculars will be on your transcript or activities section . These can go under “Things reflected in my application.” If you’ve already written your personal statement for the Common App, put that topic in this list, too. Put other experiences regarding your family, your beliefs, or anything else under “Things that are not reflected in my application.”

Boston College essays that introduce new topics should be very clear about why these topics matter matter. As always, give discrete details about Boston College that are relevant to whichever of the Boston College prompts you chose. At the same time, don’t just throw course names and faculty titles around without context. Instead, relate those details to the interests and identities that you consider most important.

Highlight new aspects of yourself

It’s absolutely fine to write Boston College essays on topics mentioned elsewhere in your application. However, if you try to draft Boston College supplemental essays like this, build on the story your application already tells. Remember, Boston College supplemental essays should share something new with the Boston College admissions team. If you’re not giving entirely new information, be sure your Boston College essays provide a new perspective.

As you’re drafting Boston College supplemental essays—perhaps trying multiple Boston College essay prompts—consider the following questions.

Reflection Questions for BC Essays:

• Do my Boston College supplemental essays answer all elements of the prompt?
• Do my Boston College essays engage the reader with specific details about myself and about Boston College?
• Do my Boston College supplemental essays tell my story in a unique and compelling way?
• Do my Boston College essays answer the question “Why Boston College?”
• Do my Boston College supplemental essays have spelling/grammatical errors?

Don’t skip the editing phase

Especially if writing Boston College supplemental essays is really challenging, it can be tempting to submit a first draft. Forget editing, you’re tired of looking at this thing! But if you know the first thing about how to get into Boston College, you’ll know editing is crucial. Make plenty of time to leave your drafts alone before returning to them for the editing round. Then, you’ll be able to look at your writing with fresh eyes.

Don’t just fix technical errors: review your essays for content to make them shine . Additionally, read essay examples to see what worked well and how you can improve your own essays. Moreover, ask someone you trust, like a family member or teacher, if your essays portray you accurately. Reflect on the questions included with the Boston College supplemental essays above when revising.

Is the Boston College essay important?

Absolutely. Along with personal statements, Boston College essays provide Boston College admissions an opportunity to hear about you through your own perspective. They should give a fuller picture of you than your transcript and activities lists. Ideally, your Boston College supplemental essays will show your ability to reflect and learn from certain experiences. In fact, all of the Boston College essay prompts allow students to showcase their personal growth. By highlighting your growth mindset, you can ensure your application stands out. 

Boston College supplemental essays also let you reflect on a key aspect of your life. Read each of the Boston College essay prompts, selecting the prompt for which you can draft effective Boston College essays. Starting off on the right foot will help you overcome the low Boston College acceptance rate.

Showcase writing ability

Personal statements and Boston College supplemental essays also give Boston College admissions a sense of your writing ability. After all, any school matching the Boston College acceptance rate will have a rigorous curriculum. Furthermore, as a liberal arts college, Boston College will certainly call upon your writing skills regardless of your major. Can you efficiently and clearly convey ideas? Additionally, can you engage readers of your Boston College essays?

If you enroll at Boston College, you’ll have a lot of writing ahead of you. Therefore, Boston College admissions wants strong Boston College supplemental essays that show evidence of drafting, editing, and proofreading. These are all skills that you will use if you attend Boston College. So, effective Boston College supplemental essays show that the author has what it takes to succeed at Boston College.

Overcoming the Low Boston College Acceptance Rate

As mentioned in the Quick Facts, the Boston College acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 19%. The Boston College acceptance rate places Boston College among the top 100 most selective colleges and universities in the country. As the Boston College acceptance rate suggests, Boston College is a competitive school.

In light of the low Boston College acceptance rate, you should think critically about how to get into Boston College. High test scores won’t necessarily be enough. According to the U.S. News report of Boston College admissions, half of admitted applicants had an SAT score between 1420 and 1530 or an ACT score between 33 and 34. The decreasing Boston College acceptance rate reflects these competitive scores.

Given the low Boston College acceptance rate, Boston College supplemental essays are extremely important to every Boston College application. While the Boston College acceptance rate may seem intimidating, there’s one thing every admitted student has in common: they impressed Boston College admissions by writing compelling Boston College supplemental essays. For your best chance against the Boston College acceptance rate, you should craft unique, authentic, and engaging Boston College essays.

What are the admission requirements for Boston College?

Remember, prospective students can complete a Boston College application using the Common Application or Questbridge Application. Note that Boston College does not accept the Coalition Application. An application must include:

Boston College Admission Requirements:

• An official transcript
• Letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• One of your drafted Boston College supplemental essays.

As you can see, Boston College supplemental essays are just one aspect of your application. However, Boston College essays are essential to the Boston College admissions process, especially as the Boston College acceptance rate declines.

Declining acceptance rates

The Boston College acceptance rate has steadily decreased over the past five years. As more students have begun applying to more schools, acceptance rates across the nation have become more competitive. On top of that, the pandemic forced many colleges and universities to adopt test-optional policies. Consequently, even more students applied to college, especially competitive schools like Boston College and the Ivies . The Boston College acceptance rate from last year definitely reflects this uptick in applicants.

Boston College admissions has made their 2023-2024 admissions cycle test-optional as well. If you so choose —or, of course, are unable—you don’t need to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, if you don’t submit test scores, Boston College admissions will place greater emphasis on the rest of your application. This includes Boston College essays, so make your choice wisely. Even if your standardized test scores are solidly in the middle—or even slightly below average—submitting them may not hurt.

Additional Tips for the Boston College essay

Boston college supplemental essays top tips, #1- mark your calendar.

Make sure you give yourself adequate time to complete your application and write your Boston College supplemental essays. Try making an application calendar including the Boston College admissions deadlines . The November 1st deadline for Early Decision I has already passed for 2022. However, Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both due  January 1st. From there, work backward and set deadlines for choosing a prompt, completing your first draft, second draft, and so on. Be sure to plan ahead so you don’t have to spend all of winter break drafting Boston College supplemental essays.

#2- Create a checklist

As you respond to the  Boston College essay prompts, see if you can successfully answer the reflection questions for each one. And here are some more general questions:

• Do I answer every part of the Boston College essay prompts?
• Does my essay reflect my experiences and how they’ve contributed to who I am? 
• Have I included specific details in my essay?
• Do I avoid any spelling/grammar errors?
• Does my essay tell a clear and compelling story?

#3- Get a second opinion

Once you have some solid drafts of your Boston College essays, ask someone you trust to look over it. This might be a guardian, a counselor, a neighbor, or a teacher. Another reader will be able to catch grammar or spelling errors you might have missed. They can also give feedback on clarity, flow, and style . Moreover, if you’re stuck between two responses to Boston College essay prompts, maybe they can tell you which they prefer. Be sure to complete drafts well ahead of the deadline to give them plenty of time to give you thoughtful feedback.

Boston College Admissions

Want to hear more from Boston College’s undergraduate admissions team on approaching the Boston College supplemental essay? Check out this video from the senior assistant director below.

Boston College Supplemental Essay: Final Thoughts

When thinking about how to get into Boston College, well-crafted Boston College supplemental essays should be top of your list. As you review and respond to the Boston College essay prompts, don’t let the low Boston College acceptance rate deter you from applying. If you believe Boston College’s Jesuit Catholic education will help you achieve your goals, submit the strongest application you can.

The more you edit your Boston College supplemental essays, the stronger they will be. Take your time with the Boston College essay prompts and remember to draft, revise, and proofread. Whichever one of the Boston College essay prompts you choose, your Boston College essays should answer, “Why Boston College?”

Look on the bright side!

Once again, don’t let the low Boston College acceptance rate discourage you. Boston College admissions wants to accept students from a diverse range of backgrounds who will enrich their campus community and make a positive difference in the world. Don’t be afraid to dream about the kind of future you want to build for yourself. If you can imagine how Boston College will help you reach it, you can better show why you deserve admission. Remember to be yourself and take pride in your experiences. If you’re genuine and authentic in your Boston College supplemental essay, your personality will shine through.

This Boston College supplemental essays guide was written by Sarah Kaminski and Gina Goosby.   Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. I n fact, d uring your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

July 20, 2023

EssayBoston College’s 15% acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 is half of what it was just five years ago. Today, accepted students earned an average SAT score of 1511. Additionally, you need an all-around stellar academic resume to get serious consideration at this highly-selective Jesuit university. Writing an excellent Common App  and Boston College supplemental essay are two of the more critical components of the BC application.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into BC? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Boston College  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Below are the BC supplemental essay prompts for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Additionally, we offer tips about how to write a winning composition. NOTE: If you are applying to Human-Centered Engineering, you must respond to the Human-Centered Engineering-specific prompt. All other applicants will choose one of the four remaining options.

Boston College Supplemental Essay Option #1

Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text? 

By the age of 17/18, many of us have at least one book that holds a special place in our hearts and speaks to us in a deep way about the human condition. For this prompt, you can select a fiction or nonfiction work. It can be a commonly read text that you encountered in school or a book that you read for pleasure. There are genuinely no limits here. As long as you can eloquently communicate how the text can be a launching off point for a powerful and generative discussion about one or more essential elements of the human experience.

Boston College Essay Option #2

At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

Who do you engage in deep conversations with? For some, this may be a sibling, parent, grandparent, or other family member. For others, it may be a friend, spiritual leader, or teacher. If you are someone who regularly engages in meaningful discourse with another individual or a group of peers or adults, this can be an excellent prompt to choose. Note that the prompt specifies “issues and problems facing society”. This offers limitless possibilities from the environment, to global conflict, to political polarization. Feel free to use the 400 words worth of real estate to cover two or more conversational topics/themes.

BC Supplemental Essay Option #3

In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story, ” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

You have the option of taking this in the same direction as the author. If you have been judged by your nationality, appearance, or background, prompt #3 is an opportunity to share a deeply personal story, showing vulnerability and grit in overcoming obstacles. However, there is another legitimate avenue in addressing this prompt…

Human beings have a tendency to pigeonhole others. Families, in particular, may take one incidence of something in childhood and define you by it for years (or even decades) to come. You don’t have to be part of a marginalized population to experience a reductive attack on your sense of self. Either approach this prompt can result in an intriguing composition that reveals more about how you perceive the world.

BC Supplemental Essay Option #4

Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

The admissions committee wants to make sure that your personal aims align with those of the university, as indicated in their mission statement. This mission is foster“the rigorous intellectual development and the religious, ethical and personal formation of its undergraduate, graduate and professional students in order to prepare them for citizenship, service and leadership in a global society.” The strongest answers usually include some level of previous participation/community service on the part of the applicant. For example, if you are concerned about voting rights and the preservation of the democratic process, you may have volunteered with a relevant organization.

HCE Essay Prompt

Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only:  One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

The merger of science/technology and humanity forms the core of the  HCE program  which opened its doors in the fall of 2021. You undoubtedly have reasons for choosing this particular engineering program that “integrates BC’s core liberal arts curriculum with courses in foundational and advanced engineering that emphasize societal responsibility.” You may want to use the list of foundational topics covered in the program as you enter the prewriting phase for this essay:

• Introduction to Human-Centered Engineering and Design
• Human Factors in Engineering Design
• Engineering for Development
• Engineering Foundations Studio (includes topics such as Dynamics, Circuits, Transport phenomena, Thermodynamics, and Environmental Systems)
• Introduction to Data Science and Machine Learning
• Advanced electives
• Collaborative Service Engineering Project
• Senior Impact Project

How important are the essays at Boston College?

Presently, Boston College considers two factors to be “very important” in evaluating a candidate. They are: the GPA earned, and the rigor of one’s curriculum. Further, nine factors rate as “important”: class rank, recommendations, essays, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, legacy status, religious affiliation, and volunteer work. In other words, the essays are definitely an important admissions factor at BC.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Boston College supplemental essay, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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CEA’s Guide to the 2021-22 Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts

Boston College asks students to select one prompt (out of five) to respond to in 400 words or less (prompts below). So what will you write about? Philosophy, racial injustice, conversation partners, introspection, or your favorite book? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you all the information you need to select a prompt and write an amazing supplemental essay.

Supplemental Essays 101

How to Write College Admissions Diversity Essays Regardless of Your Background

With the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action came an avalanche of diversity essays meant to compensate for a missing tool that aimed to level the playing field. We here at CEA have celebrated the preponderance of opportunities to address race, gender, and other identity-oriented details on the application. We have also found that these prompts can be flummoxing for some students. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to provide guidance to applicants who feel like they don't have an obvious "diversity" story to tell.

How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays

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Guide to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Supplemental Essay Prompt

Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you make your case as to why you're the perfect fit for WPI (and vice versa)!

Guide to the University of Miami’s Supplemental Essay Prompt

The University of Miami asks applicants to respond to one supplemental essay prompt in 250 words or less (full text below). CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to share some tips and tricks for differentiating your response.

Guide to the American University’s Supplemental Essay Prompt

American University asks applicants to respond to the following prompt, "Why are you interested in American University?" in 150 words or less. With such few words at your disposal, you'll want to be succinct as possible. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, has some tips to help you get started on a distinct response.

Guide to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Supplemental Essay Prompt

Admissions wants to know just what appeals to you about the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to lend tips and tricks for writing a winning supplemental essay for your Wisconsin-Madison application.

How to Respond to Wake Forest’s 150-Word “How Did You Become Interested in WFU?” Essay

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you a jumpstart on your drafted response for Wake Forest's "Why?" essay: "How did you become interested in Wake Forest University? Feel free to tell us about any contact that you had with Wake Forest that was important to you. (150 words)"

How to Approach the 2021-22 Wake Forest Brief Responses (Writing Section)

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through Wake Forest's 2021-22 Brief Responses, so you can submit a distinct and personal application to WFU.

CEA’s Guide to Yale’s 2021-22 “Intellectual Interest” Essay

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down Yale's 250-word "Intellectual Interest" essay, which reads, "Yale’s extensive course offerings and vibrant conversations beyond the classroom encourage students to follow their developing intellectual interests wherever they lead. Tell us about your engagement with a topic or idea that excites you. Why are you drawn to it?"

How to Write an Artist Statement

Many colleges and universities ask art students to write an artist statement as part of their applications. Writing an Artist Statement can be tricky, especially if you’re applying as an undergraduate.

Guide to the Purdue University Supplemental Essays (2022-23)

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CEA’s Guide to Yale University’s “Short Takes” Supplement Section for the 2021-22 Application Year

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through Yale University's "Short Takes" supplement section for the 2021-22 application season. It's time to brainstorm!

How to Respond to Yale University’s “Why Yale?” Supplement Section in 100 Words or Fewer

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through the 2021-22 Yale University "Why Yale?" supplement section, so you can infuse your response with specificity while demonstrating fit.

CEA’s Guide to the 2021-22 Georgetown University Essay Prompts

Georgetown University asks applicants to submit four (4) essays in their undergraduate admission application. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through each of Georgetown's 2021-22 prompts, so you can draft with confidence.

CEA’s Guide to the University of Chicago’s 2021-22 Supplemental Essay Prompts

CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through the 2021-22 University of Chicago supplemental essays, so you can better understand what admissions is looking for in your response.

CEA’s Guide to the 2021-22 Colgate University Supplemental Essays (and List!)

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CEA’s Guide to the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business Portfolio Submission

Preferred Admission applicants to the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business will complete a portfolio. This portfolio is in addition to the materials you submit with your Common Application or Coalition Application.

Boston College asks students to select one prompt (out of five) to respond to in 400 words or less (prompts below). So what will you write about? Philosophy, racial injustice, conversation partners, introspection, or your favorite book? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you all the information you need to select a prompt and write an amazing supplemental essay.

CEA’s Guide to the 2021-22 Dartmouth College Supplemental Essays

Dartmouth College is one of the most competitive schools in the country, and every year admissions officers are faced with countless applications from eager students looking to make the cut. Dartmouth's supplemental essay prompts are an opportunity for applicants to distinguish themselves from their peers. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the seven Dartmouth College supplemental essay prompts, so you can draft your responses with confidence.

4 Types of Essay Prompts to Expect from Military Academy Applications

Whether you’re applying to the United States Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, or West Point Military Academy, you can anticipate penning responses to these four types of essay prompts. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through the four most common Military application essay categories!

How to Respond to College Essay Prompts About Diversity and Inclusivity

Many colleges and universities have started asking applicants to respond to prompts that ask them about their experiences with diversity, inclusion, and equity. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through the popular new supplemental essay prompt.

Guide to the 2020-21 University of Southern California (USC) Essays | CEA

So, we just have to say it: the USC application is kind of all over the place! You’ll be asked about everything from your academic interests to your life's theme song, so make sure to tighten the straps on your brainstorming helmet. Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to show you how to use every essay as an opportunity to showcase something different about yourself!

Guide to the 2020-21 University of California Essays | CEA

For the UC application, the rules may be unfamiliar but the game is the same: tell admissions something they don’t know, and then do it three more times! A strategic applicant will choose an amalgam of prompts that highlight vastly different aspects of their life and personality, leaving an admissions officer with a deep and complete picture of who they are. Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you avoid getting hung up on trying to find the questions admissions "wants" you to answer -- with each essay, your goal isn’t just to answer the question, but to tell a very short story about yourself!

Guide to the 2020-21 Georgetown University Essays | CEA

Since it's not on the Common App, Georgetown requires some extra special attention when it comes to its supplemental essay requirements! Luckily, our Founder and Chief Advisor Stacey Brook is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and discuss the motivation behind them. Take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice!

Guide to the 2020-21 Harvard University Supplemental Essays | CEA

Harvard University is one of the most competitive schools in the country, and every year admissions officers are faced with countless applications from eager students looking to make the cut. As a result, Harvard's supplemental essay prompts are diverse and complex, to allow students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from their peers. If you're feeling overwhelmed, fear not! CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the Harvard essays so you can hit submit with confidence.

Guide to the 2020-21 Stanford University Essays | CEA

The Stanford University application is nothing short of a doozie -- no less than EIGHT essays of varying lengths for students to answer and submit! To help you tackle this beast, our Founder and Chief Advisor Stacey Brook has created this video guide to walk you through each of the prompts, and give you the tips and tricks you need to make an impression on admissions.

Guide to the 2020-21 Boston University Essays | CEA

The Boston University essay requirements are a gift to students: two of the most straightforward prompts you could ask for, and only one of them is required! Of course, our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, doesn't believe that any essay is truly optional, so make sure you're taking advantage of every opportunity you have to speak to admissions in your own voice. Plan ahead, pay attention to the questions, and above all don't wait until the last minute to start your work!

Guide to the 2020-21 University of Michigan Essays | CEA

We know that submitting your application to the University of Michigan can cause some serious stress. Thankfully, this year Michigan only requires two supplemental essays instead of three! Our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and provide you with tips and tricks to help you showcase yourself to admissions using your own unique voice.

Guide to the 2020-21 New York University Supplemental Essay | CEA

New York University (NYU) asks undergraduate applicants to write one supplemental essay (prompt in description below) on top of their Common App personal statement. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to craft a winning response!

Guide to the 2020-21 Brown University Supplemental Essays | CEA

Applying to an Ivy League institution, such as Brown University, can be incredibly stressful! Luckily for you, CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to walk you through Brown's four (4) supplemental essay prompts.

Are “Optional” College Essay Prompts Really Optional?

Every year, colleges and universities around the world offer applicants the opportunity to respond to "optional" supplemental essay questions...But are these prompts truly optional? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, lets you in on a college admissions secret.

The Expert’s Guide to Finding Sneaky Supplemental Essays

There's probably a section of the Common Application that says "Writing", in which all of the supplemental essays live, right? WRONG! Supplements can be found in a variety of places and can sneak up on students who have spent months preparing to submit their applications. Don't let that be you! This video will detail the several different places where you can find supplemental essays.

How to Write Vanderbilt University’s “Extracurricular Activities” Essay

Vanderbilt University's supplement consists of one prompt (text below). CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you take full advantage of this opportunity to illuminate your leadership skills or personal values for admissions.

The College Application ‘Activity’ and ‘Community’ Essays: What You Need to Know

Want the key to writing the most important and pervasive school-specific supplemental essays? We've got the tips and tricks you need to conquer the ever-popular "Activity" and "Community" supplements so you can showcase for admissions how you spend your time, where you feel like you belong and what truly motivates you to action. Assigned by schools like Harvard, Stanford, The University of Michigan and so many more, mastering these supplemental essays will ensure you utilize every opportunity a school's application provides to showcase your strengths.

What is a Supplemental Essay?

Most supplemental essay prompts are designed to both gauge a student’s interest and determine where a student might fit into a school’s particular community. Typically, these essays focus more specifically on future academic and professional goals, school-related activities and a student's role in your current community than the Common App's personal statement. Watch this video for a short and sweet introduction to supplemental essays. Know what you're up against!

How to Write a Powerful “Why Do You Want to Go Here?” Essay (The Why Essay)

The Why Essay takes on many forms and can ask many questions: What will you do when you get here? How will you take advantage of all the resources our school has to offer? How will the school support your academic or professional goals? How do your past experiences or future goals support these claims? It’s likely that many schools to which you apply will as the Why question in slightly different ways (and with a WIDE range of word limits). This video will teach you everything you need to know about how to respond to the "Why do you want to go here?" essay.

How to Respond to Quirky, Odd, and Bizarre College Essay Prompts

There are certain schools, like the University of Chicago, who have always taken special pride in developing crafty questions for their applicants to answer. In recent years, more schools are jumping on the bandwagon, luring students to their applications with questions like “What does #YOLO mean to you” (Tufts, 2013). This is both fun and exhausting for applicants who are grateful for an injection of modern, quirky inspiration, but whose creative wells may be running dry. This video will get down to the bottom line: Why are schools asking these questions and what are they looking for in applicants' responses?

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston University (with Winning Supplemental Essays)!

The Boston University application supplement is a gift: two of the most straightforward prompts you could ask for, and only one of them is required [full prompts below]. But beware, a simple supplement is no reason to ignore a school or save it until the last minute. In fact, it means you have no excuse not to nail your essay, so pay attention and do your work!

How to Write the “Why NYU?” Essay

New York University (NYU) asks undergraduate applicants to pen one supplemental essay (prompt below) in addition to the personal statement. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to draft a compelling response.

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston College (with a Winning Supplemental Essay)!

Boston College asks students to select one prompt (out of four) to respond to in 400 words or less (prompts below). So what will you write about? Art, community, a contemporary problem, or character formation? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you all the information you need to select a prompt and write an amazing supplemental essay.

How to Write Fantastic Application Essays for the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia asks students to write two application essays of 200-300 words. The first prompt is set in stone, and for the second essay, applicants can choose one of four prompts to respond to [prompts below]. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts for UGA. Let's begin!

How to Write Short Answers and the Additional Info Essay

The challenge of short answer questions lies half in generating honest, unique and clever ideas, and the other in being concise. The purpose of additional info essays is to provide admissions with an explanation for a drop in grades, low test scores, or prolonged absences. Both of these essay types need to be handled with care -- and that's exactly what this video will show you how to do.

How to Get Into University of Texas: Austin (with Great Application Essays!)

The University of Texas: Austin application is a beast unto itself, with a slew of essay prompts (full text below) that ask you to dig into all aspects of your life. From your home life to your future plans, you're going to have to tell all -- and in a way that sets you apart! Luckily CEA's Founder, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the prompts so you're ready to tackle anything Texas' independent platform throws at you.

How to Get Into Emory University (With Amazing Supplemental Essays!)

Emory University asks first-year applicants to write two (2) essays in addition to the personal statement. Applicants must choose one prompt from the "Reflections" category and one prompt from the "Tell us about you" category. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts. Let's begin!

How To Answer Supplemental Application Questions: “Why Do You Want To Go Here?”

These days, most colleges and universities require supplemental applications in addition to the Common Application. You could be looking at a list of 10+ supplemental essays, so we made you a quick guide to the most common supplemental question: "Why do you want to go here?"

Guide to the 2018-19 Northwestern University Supplemental Essay

Are you planning to apply to Northwestern University? The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into Northwestern's supplemental essay prompt so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2018-19 University of Michigan Essays

Submitting your college application to the University of Michigan can be a real nail-biter. Michigan requires three supplemental essays. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

How to Get Into UNC (With a Great Essay)

UNC is well-known for being the first public university in the United States and a leader in innovative teaching strategies. The school is also known for receiving many college applications, which means it is crucial for applicants to differentiate themselves in their essays. Luckily for UNC hopefuls, the university gives students two additional supplemental prompts to respond to in order to set themselves apart from the sea of similarly qualified applicants and increase their chances of getting into UNC. College Essay Advisors Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the UNC supplemental prompts so you know which essays will showcase your best attributes!

Guide to the 2017-2018 Duke University Supplemental Essays

Submitting your college application to Duke University can be a real nail-biter. Although it's probably too late now to tweak your test scores or GPA, you can make sure that your college application essays will bring you admissions success! Duke requires one supplemental short answer and gives students the opportunity to respond to two optional prompts. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2017-2018 Harvard University Supplemental Essay

Harvard University is one of the most competitive schools in the country. Every year admissions officers are bombarded with applications from eager students looking to make the cut. Thus, Harvard has a supplement to give students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition. Writing supplemental essays can be daunting, but luckily for you, College Essay Advisors founder (and admissions expert) Stacey Brook is here to break down the Harvard supplement so you can hit submit with confidence.

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3 Strong Boston College Essay Examples

Boston College is a private, Jesuit research university in the greater Boston area known for its outstanding academics and beautiful Gothic architecture. This R1 research university was founded as a small liberal arts college in 1863 and pays homage to its roots by keeping the word “college” in its name.

Admissions at Boston College are quite selective so if you want to become a BC Eagle, it’s important to write strong essays that show admissions counselors your personality and potential. In this post, we will go over real essays students have submitted to Boston College. Walking through the strengths and weaknesses of these essays should help you when perfecting your Boston College Application!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Boston College essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt:   When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? (400 words) 

I used to face two paths: one flocked with taxis and frantic people, staccato shouts, and the smell of pizza. The other was a road of motorcycles rolling over wet cement, laced with cicada symphonies and the aroma of beef noodle soup. It always felt easier to walk the streets of Taiwan, where everyone looks like me, speaks meekly as I have been taught to, and steers away from confrontation. However, I was also raised in the thick of New York, where people argue, think, and exist fearlessly. PBS created a documentary in 1988 titled Tug of War: The Story of Taiwan, and I grew to believe that I embodied the little potato island as my teetering balance between two worlds initiated a “Tug of War” within myself. Although I am proud to be Taiwanese, New York has cultivated an unbridled emotion and passion within me that encourages me, against my inherent modesty, to be a bold author, a shameless poet, and a strong-willed advocate for Asian-American youth. I am excited by the vibrant discussions and meshed ideas I might find at a place as diverse as Boston College: perhaps at the Diversity Summit or with Professor Min Hyoung Song about the integration of Asian American writers and literature in an alienating culture. I see incredible opportunities to become part of a community that supports students struggling with their own “Tug of Wars” by sharing my story through the Taiwanese Cultural Organization and delving into the stories of others by curating pieces written by my peers for The Stylus. 

Growing up in a pentecostal home also taught me the strength of conviction in faith and community. The Holy Ghost Faith Church is a family that has become a constant foundation in my life, and a world that grounds me in my beliefs despite the cultural identities I struggled with. Through religion, I find connection with many people molded uniquely by their personal experiences. At Boston College, I will seek the same enriched human bonds with my peers and professors by sharing my testimonies while learning from theirs. I can see myself striking up a conversation about religious influences in literature and poetry with Professor James Najarian or joining a multi-faith program and attending local church services with friends on Sunday mornings. While Jesuit education will strengthen my religious values, it will also enlighten me to the beliefs of my peers.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay does a great job of establishing this student’s background and the distinction between their two cultures. There is a great use of imagery, especially at the beginning, which displays this student’s strength as a writer and highlights the internal “Tug of War” they experience. It is evident how their past community has shaped their perspective and identity. Knowing how their background shaped these things makes it easy for admissions officers to see what type of student they would be adding to their campus.

An example of this can be seen through the student’s creative integration of the “Tug of War” metaphor. Early in the essay, the student creates an interesting image of themself caught in a “Tug of War” between two cultures. Then, when they start discussing BC, they reuse this already-personalized metaphor—“ I see incredible opportunities to become part of a community that supports students struggling with their own “Tug of Wars” by sharing my story through the Taiwanese Cultural Organization and delving into the stories of others by curating pieces written by my peers for The Stylus. ” Because they already established a personal connection with the “Tug of War” idea earlier, this section doesn’t feel like the student is simply name-dropping university programs and instead feels like they are authentically drawn to university programs.

With regards to organization, this student effectively divides their essay into two paragraphs that answer the prompt in two different ways. While this is not always the best strategy and cohesiveness is important for college essays, it works for this student because their second topic is faith. Simply put, using more words to discuss their cultural background and interests would have become repetitive and writing an entire essay about religion is typically unadvisable. However, by supplementing their discussion of culture with a discussion of faith, this student appears multidimensional.

Note: For most schools, focusing on faith in your essay is not recommended, but because Boston College is religiously affiliated, this student’s “cherry on top” discussion on faith works well.

This essay makes readers feel like the student is genuine, interesting, and genuinely interested in contributing to the community at Boston College.

What Could Be Improved

The second paragraph of this essay (the paragraph that discusses faith) could be improved through more engaging writing. While the student’s integration of information about BC feels natural when they are discussing culture, it feels inorganic when they discuss religion. The essay ends with the following sentences:

The student’s descriptions of forming bonds through religion are not as engaging as their writing above and the inclusion of a professor’s name does very little here. Instead, the student could have created an image of their life at BC and reminded the reader of their vivid images from earlier. Improvement could look something like this:

“Now, when I think about community, I imagine myself in the dining hall. Through some series of unexpected events, I find myself in an intense intellectual discussion about the influence of religious propaganda on the Wife of Bath’s Tale. Sometime during our back-and-forth, I start to enjoy and respect my impromptu debate opponent. I picture us (after emerging from the heat of our debate) chatting and deciding to check out a local church service together on Sunday morning. It feels like a dream—like another scary path, without taxis or motorcycles, but dotted with intimidating social situations and an infinity of uncertainties. But it also feels like the most promising opportunity of my life.”

Essay Example #2

Prompt: When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? (400 words) 

I gazed at my Beyer book and the monochromatic piano keys. Notes swirled in my head as I struggled to decipher the crochet on the page. Taking my chances, I pressed the D key, positive that I was right. Alas, my tutor’s sigh indicated that l got the note wrong again. 

Growing up, I often faced such mishaps during piano lessons. My grandma is an avid singer and my grandpa, a violinist. My cousins are also guitarists. From being brought up around my family’s deeply rooted musical inclinations, to constantly struggling during practice sessions, I often felt like a fish out of water and wanted to quit. Music was a chore, something I felt obligated to pursue only to uphold my family’s tradition. However, one fateful session completely changed my view. 

Back then, I had spent hours glued atop the piano stool practicing for a recital, and I felt completely drained. Needing a break, I grabbed my phone and turned on some pop music. As Rihanna’s “Diamonds” blasted away, I couldn’t help but notice how similar it sounded to several musical scales I had learned. Curiously, I attempted to match some notes to the song, and before I knew, I was playing the entire chorus! It dawned on me that those scales and arpeggios I found irritating formed the basis for an endless array of songs when combined strategically and originally. 

From then on, I started to see music as my favorite creative challenge rather than a nuisance. My new perspective eventually led me to embrace every struggle I faced during practice and instead view them as opportunities to improve. As I came to love every step of my musical journey, I ultimately learned to persevere through any setbacks, like dealing with unfamiliar pieces or memorizing notes on end. 

Music has become something more than a family tradition, shaping who I am today. Thinking creatively and overcoming struggles with determination are now values I carry when tackling everyday roadblocks. Going forward, I plan to bring these values to BC. I’m determined to use creativity to help solve communal problems, like finding innovative ways to implement healthcare in underserved communities through Timmy Global Health. I also hope to contribute musically to the Symphony Orchestra and be part of a nurturing community where I can work alongside other musicians. I’m excited to see what the future holds when I become an Eagle!

This essay answers the prompt very clearly. When asked “What about your experiences will enrich Boston College’s community?” the student’s essay, as a whole, responds “As a musician, I have learned to persevere through setbacks and that will enrich the Boston College community.” 

Additionally, the student organizes their essay in a way that makes it easy to follow. They start by discussing their upbringing, then a major transition, and then they use the final paragraph to reflect. In the final paragraph, they also refer back to their upbringing—“ Music has become something more than a family tradition, shaping who I am today ”—effectively bringing things full circle. This makes the essay feel cohesive and tied up.

This student does a very nice job setting up their story, showing the reader why this was an important revelation for them. Taking the time to explain the different instruments each family member plays is a good way of showing this student’s musical background, making their burden to “ uphold my family’s tradition ” all the more understandable. Once there is a solid appreciation for this student’s circumstances, it allows the reader to sympathize with their struggle and ultimately celebrate their victory.

What Could Be Improved 

The largest fault of this essay are the grammatical errors and clunky language throughout the piece that diminish the overall quality of the story.  They use simple transitions that feel forced. For example, their body paragraphs begin with “ Growing up, ” “ Back then, ” and “ From then on, ” These boring transitions are not engaging and seem elementary.

They also have multiple poorly-written sentences including “ Thinking creatively and overcoming struggles with determination are now values I carry when tackling everyday roadblocks .” The overuse of gerunds here distracts from what the writer is trying to say. 

A final example of this essay feeling unpolished is the student’s improper use of the from-to construction with the sentence “ From being brought up around my family’s deeply rooted musical inclinations, to constantly struggling during practice sessions, I often felt like a fish out of water and wanted to quit. ” The from-to construction should outline two extremes that independently exemplify the independent clause that they are connected to.

Instead, the student could have written “ From crying late at night about missed notes to struggling through practice sessions, I constantly felt like a fish out of water in my musically-gifted family. ”   Small but noticeable language errors like this one illustrate the importance of having others edit your drafts!

Essay Example #3

Prompt: At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner?  What do you discuss with that person? (400 words)

Instead of admiring towers of multi-colored cupcakes, Asher and I found ourselves staring at a menacing yellow bulldozer, caution tape barring our path. Turned in circles, looking askance at our surroundings, Asher and I immediately began to squabble: 

“Margot, how could you mess it up??” 

“I followed the directions….”

“Well, clearly you didn’t since we’re here and not at the bakery.”

“You didn’t have to follow me!”

I retraced our steps on Google Maps, insisting that the directions were flawed—not me. My voice faded as I scrutinized the outlined path. I found our error: I had confidently led us right down Broadway instead of left. 

Since we were four, Asher and I have been best friends, and our friendship is founded on three principles: adventure, food, and FAMU (fight and make up). From hide-and-go-seek to mastering the metro system, our shared love of exploration dominates our time together. We converse about everything from where we one day hope to travel to the best dumpling places and most engaging museums. However, as two directionally challenged individuals, we routinely end up lost on our way to try new things. As a result, we frequently discuss directions: debating optimal routes, arguing when we mess up, then analyzing how to undo our errors best. 

As we anxiously bickered at the construction site, our fight progressed toward problem-solving.

“I guess we could retrace our steps.”

“No…look! There’s a pedestrian path over by the cones. Let’s see where it goes.”

Following the path, we talked solely about our frustration and annoyance about getting lost. But, as we emerged on the other side of the construction site, we spotted the bakery we had been searching for. Our disastrous detour was actually a secret shortcut. 

Inspired by our unintentional discovery, Asher and I shared an epiphany: for too long, we focused on the negatives of getting lost rather than the positives. And our conversations reflected our pessimistic attitudes. Now, I make an active effort to replace phrases like “this is all your fault” and “the directions are wrong” with “let’s get lost” or “forget the directions.” By celebrating the beauty of getting lost, I have learned that there is no singular right way to get where I am going. Sometimes the unexpected pans out in unpredictable yet incredible ways. 

Asher and I no longer fight about directions; now, we excitedly discuss getting lost .

This prompt wants to hear about your conversations with someone special, and this essay delivers! The best way to make your essay immersive is to include actual lines of dialogue you and your conversation partner have had. We get to see the frustration, sass, and bickering of the student and her friend instead of just being told about it. Just six lines of dialogue bring a whole new dimension and level of characterization to these two.

Beyond the conversation snippets, the level of detail this student incorporates makes the essay more engaging. From the first sentence, we get descriptions like “ towers of multi-colored cupcake ,” “ menacing yellow bulldozer, ” and “ caution tape barring our path. ” Her detailed writing continues with concrete examples of what she and her friend discuss, beyond the incident at the heart of this essay: “ We converse about everything from where we one day hope to travel to the best dumpling places and most engaging museums.”

Another positive of this essay is this student’s concise writing style that lets her voice shine through. Despite being a story about getting lost, this essay has a light-hearted and somewhat humorous mood. This student is able to accomplish that because she gets directly to her point, saving space to inject a little fun into her writing. She perfectly encapsulates her friendship for the reader in three points—” adventure, food, and FAMU (fight and make up)”—humanizing them in a quick and entertaining manner. Additionally, describing them as “ two directionally challenged individuals ” is a straight-to-the-point descriptor that also pokes fun at their weakness.

Overall, the reader walks away from this essay being able to imagine exactly what a conversation between this student and her friend sounds like, which is a great accomplishment.

One of the weaker aspects of this essay is the reflection in the conclusion. Although the student is trying to demonstrate her growth and new perspective from the experience, it feels a little forced. Generalizing the acceptance of getting lost to the idea that “ there is no singular right way to get where I am going ” comes off a bit cliche without further elaboration.

In order to make the conclusion feel more genuine, this student should have included an example of a time she applied this lesson to her life. Maybe she always thought she should be a doctor, but she allowed herself to get lost researching topics in her biology class and stumbled across biomedical engineering and has now decided to pursue that. The one risk with this approach is making sure there is enough space in the conclusion to elaborate with a sentence or two. You don’t want to go from talking about getting lost trying to find a bakery to studying biomedical engineering in one sentence. But, if the student found a way to rework her conclusion to make it less theoretical, it would come across as more sincere.

Where to Get Your Boston College Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Boston College  essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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We review each application with a level of thoroughness and thoughtfulness that reflects the time and effort you have invested in Boston College. In making admission decisions, we consider grades, standardized test scores, what you do outside of school, teachers’ and others’ appraisals, and how you express yourself through writing.

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Common Application

Associate Director Chris O'Brien

For our undergraduate admission process, Boston College uses the Common Application. We require that all candidates submit their application electronically. Please make sure to carefully select your preference for Early Decision or Regular Decision consideration on the Common Application. commonapp.org

Selecting an Academic Division

Candidates are required to apply to one of the University's four undergraduate academic divisions: the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, or Connell School of Nursing. Students are only considered for admission to the division to which they applied. Students do not have to declare a specific major when applying (with the exception of Engineering* & Nursing.) Learn more about  choosing an academic division .

* Because of the limited number of spaces in the entering cohort, HCE major applicants only will have the option to indicate a second major in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences on their application. If applicants are not offered admission to the HCE major, they may be considered for their second-choice major.

Note on Use of Artificial Intelligence

Personal statements, supplemental essays, and free responses provide students with a valuable opportunity to have an authentic voice in the college admission process. While students may turn to a variety of resources such as parents/guardians, English teachers, and school counselors in order to generate ideas, the content must be their own. Generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT may also serve as a resource, but must only be used as a guide; content must never be directly copied from AI or other sources. The submission of original content not only adheres to the ethical expectations in applying to college, but benefits the applicant by having their authentic personal story valued by the Admission Committee.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Office of Undergraduate Admission deeply values the contributions made by a diverse community of scholars. Learn more about Boston College's  notice of nondiscrimination .

Boston College Writing Supplement

Associate Director Amy Chung

The Boston College Writing Supplement must be submitted along with your application to Boston College at www.commonapp.org . Please do not mail or email your essay response. 

Supplemental Questions

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the first four prompts below (400 word limit). Students applying to the Human Centered Engineering major should respond to Prompt #5 instead.

1. Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text? 

2. At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in  your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

3. In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story ,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single  story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

4. Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an  immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

5. Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only : One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Standardized Testing

• To reduce the cost associated with applying to college, Boston College provides applicants with multiple options to report your SAT and ACT score results. Students may send official score reports from a testing center, self-report their test scores on their applications, and/or upload self-reported scores through their Applicant Status Portals. All scores submitted to Boston College will be evaluated by the Admission Committee. Should applicants upload or send new scores after submitting their application, we will do our best to review them, but cannot guarantee that they will arrive in time for review.
• Boston College "super scores" exam results for students who have taken the SAT or ACT multiple times. During our review, we will assess the students' strongest individual scores across exam administration dates to create the highest combined or composite score earned by the student. This policy also applies to prospective students who take both the paper-based SAT and the new digital SAT, which will be administered in the US beginning in Spring 2024.
• Enrolled students who provided scores with their applications will be required to submit official test score reports upon matriculation. At that time, students’ results will be verified.
• Official standardized test results sent at the time of application or upon enrollment must be sent directly from the testing agency to Boston College (SAT Code: 3083 and ACT Code: 1788). If having score reports sent from the College Board or ACT to Boston College presents a financial hardship, applicants should have their high school counselorcontact the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Alternatives will be explored on a case-by-case basis.

High School Transcript

Associate Director Kristen Gallant

Curriculum Evaluation

Boston College looks for students who are in the most challenging courses available at their high schools. Our most competitive applicants tend to have a high school program with four years of the five main subjects: English, Math, Social Science, Natural Science, and Foreign Language. We do appreciate that high schools can offer a variety of programs and consider that in our application review.

Submitting Your Transcript(s)

All students are required to submit an official high/secondary school transcript. This transcript must be sent by your high school and can be submitted online at  commonapp.org  or can be mailed (see below for address). Please note that we will not accept any academic credentials from students.

*In order to matriculate at Boston College, a student must submit a final high school transcript or a G.E.D. prior to enrollment.

Mailing Address: Boston College Undergraduate Admission 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Devlin 208 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Supporting Materials

In addition to the Common Application, Boston College requires that you also submit the following materials:

The School Report and Counselor Recommendation Form  - Your counselor or school official should submit these forms. If your school uses its own school form, we will also accept that document. Traditionally the school form is submitted with a letter of recommendation from your college counselor and your official transcript. Teacher Evaluations  - You are required to submit two teacher evaluations as part of your application to Boston College. We recommend that these evaluations are written by teachers who have taught you in one of the five main academic subject areas (English, Social Studies, Science, Math, or Foreign Language). Mid-Year Grade Report (Regular Decision and Early Decision deferred candidates)  - We require that the Mid-Year Grade Report be submitted as soon as it is available by your counselor or designated school official.

Application Fee

The application fee of $80 or application fee waiver request must be submitted in order for your application to be reviewed. Your application fee should be submitted with your Common Application. Given the volume of applications Boston College receives, we strongly recommend that you submit the application fee online. If you are unable to submit the fee online, you should mail a check or money order.

*Fee Waiver Request

If submitting the $80 application fee presents a financial hardship for your family and you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may apply for an application fee waiver. You may apply for a fee waiver through the Common Application.

Optional Credentials for the Arts

Senior Associate Director Owen Grover

Students who intend to major in Studio Art can submit artistic samples/portfolios through SlideRoom .  If not majoring in Studio Art, please highlight any art involvement (such as photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, digital media, and video) within the Activities or Additional Information sections of the Common Application or the QuestBridge Application. 

Students with a background in theater and/or music who plan to be involved in music and theater productions at Boston College are invited to showcase their talents by submitting artistic samples via SlideRoom,  regardless of their intended major .  If you do not intend to formally pursue these artistic talents at Boston College, but you would like to tell us about past experiences you've had in the arts, we encourage you to do so within the Activities or Additional Information sections of the Common Application or the QuestBridge Application.

All materials must be received via SlideRoom by November 1 for Early Decision I or QuestBridge National College Match candidates and by January 3 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision candidates.  Submissions received after these dates will not be reviewed.

English Proficiency

Associate Director Dave Weber

All international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test examination results. A student is considered an international applicant if he/she is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Learn more about applying as an international student.

Supplementary English Proficiency Options

Students attending a national school in China are encouraged to schedule an interview with  InitialView . While not required, a video interview allows candidates the opportunity to demonstrate English proficiency and communication skills to the Admission Committee.

Applicants should submit InitialView results by November 15 for Early Decision I and January 15 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.

Special Notice Regarding Application Deadlines

In recent years, a small number of Boston College applicants have faced challenges in meeting our application deadlines through no fault of their own. Natural disasters, political unrest, local school strikes and other unexpected events can add a level of complexity to the college application process. To the extent possible, Boston College is committed to working with students or those writing recommendations to extend deadlines, if necessary. Impacted students should contact us directly to discuss their circumstances.

For answers to our most frequent COVID-19 related questions, click here .

Early Decision I

Deadline: november 1.

Early Decision I is a binding admission program for students who view Boston College as their top choice.

Notification: By December 15

Early Decision applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than December 15.

Early Decision II

Deadline: january 2.

Early Decision II is a binding admission program for students who view Boston College as their top choice.

Notification: By February 15

Early Decision applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than February 15.

Regular Decision

Regular Decision is a non-binding admission program and the majority of applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Notification: By April 1

Regular Decision applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than April 1.

Spring Freshmen

Human-Centered Engineering and Nursing freshman applicants are not eligible for spring enrollment.

Spring entry freshmen applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than December 15.  

Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program

Each year, Boston College awards eighteen academically merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen through the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program .  Both Early Decision and Regular Decision candidates are eligible for Presidential Scholarship consideration as long as they meet the November 1 priority scholarship deadline.  No additional application materials are required for this scholarship, but please note that only candidates for fall admission will be considered.

The Presidential Scholarship is a  four-year, full-tuition scholarship . If a student demonstrates need beyond tuition, as determined by Boston College's institutional analysis, this need would be met with additional scholarship funds.

Finalists for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program will be notified of their status in mid-January. These students will be invited to Boston College at our expense for interviews and evaluation in mid-March. They will be notified of final decisions shortly thereafter. 

Boston College is proud to partner with the Stamps Scholars Program in funding three of the eighteen Presidential Scholarships each year.

Early Decision I and II

If Boston College is your unequivocal first choice, then we would urge you to consider applying through Early Decision. We expect that your academic credentials, extracurricular engagement, and personal qualities will fit the profile of currently enrolled Boston College students.  

Both Early Decision options are  binding . If admitted through Early Decision to Boston College, you must immediately withdraw applications to other institutions and enroll at Boston College.

Early Decision vs. Regular Decision

How do I check my application status?

We look forward to getting in touch with you through the email you provided on your Common Application or QuestBridge Application. After we receive your submission, we’ll email you login information for our Applicant Status Portal. You can check the status of your application there at any time. 

Please note, we do not begin downloading applications until mid-September. If you submit an early application, we will notify you once your application has been downloaded. Please add "admission@bc.edu" to your list of approved email senders to ensure that you receive this email and other important application related communications.

How do I access my Applicant Status Portal?

Within 1-2 business days of receiving your Common Application or QuestBridge Application, we’ll email you login instructions to access the portal. Please save your credentialing email, which contains your unique portal access link, so you can monitor your status throughout the admission process. You will use the same credentials for both the application process and decision notification.

As a reminder, portal credentials will not be distributed until mid-September. So if you apply early, don’t worry! We’ll email you when we begin downloading applications. If you experience technical difficulties establishing your portal login credentials or you do not receive your emailed credentials after one week, please email us at admission@bc.edu .

What can I do in the portal?

As an applicant, you will use your Applicant Status Portal to monitor your application checklist and view your admission decision. You can also use the portal to:

• Check the status of your financial aid application
• Confirm the standardized test scores we’ve received (if you choose to include them for review)
• Update your email and mailing address
• Withdraw your application

Help! I can't find my login credentials. What should I do?

Within 1-2 business days of downloading your application, we’ll email your Applicant Status Portal login credentials. First, check your spam to make sure that your credential email isn’t there (Please add "admission@bc.edu" as an approved address to your email server filtering system.)

If, after one week, you’ve checked your spam and you haven’t received your credentials email, please contact us at admission@bc.edu .

*Reminder: Applicant Status Portal login credentials will not be distributed until mid-September.

Can I submit checklist requirements through my portal?

No. All required materials (transcripts, recommendations, test scores, etc.) must be submitted electronically or via mail and must be official documents. You may use your portal to upload an optional resume, but this is not required for admission. We do not accept self-reported test scores.

How do I reset my portal password?

If you forgot your password and you set up Challenge Questions , you can conveniently change your password by clicking "Forgot Password?" on the Boston College Applicant Status Portal login screen.

If you forgot your password and you did not set up Challenge Questions, please email admission@bc.edu or call Undergraduate Admission at 617-552-3100 to have your credentialing email resent to you.

College essay resources

How to ace boston college’s supplemental essays | guide & examples, 2022-2023, school supplements.

Brad Schiller

Boston College’s five supplement options are pretty intellectual. They want to get you thinking. We at Prompt, on the other hand, want to get you into Boston College. 

So we’re going to show you how to use any of the five choices (you just choose one) to not only showcase your authentic, meaningful musings but also to shine a light on your experiences that will help increase your odds of admission. 

In addition, we’ll offer a word of advice on the required prompt for those looking to major in Human-Centered Engineering . (HCE is a new program at BC that aims to position its graduates to “solve complex global issues in areas including health , energy , and the environment ” - emphasis added).

Meet us below the table of contents to get started.

(For help with all aspects of your college application, head to our College Essay Help Center .)

First, brainstorm the experiences you most want to talk about — then choose a prompt  

Essays can make a huge difference in your chances of getting admitted — by as much as 10x , as shown in data that came out in litigation. What colleges look for in essays are the personal characteristics that indicate whether you’ll succeed in college and beyond . 

At Prompt, we’ve boiled those characteristics down to the 5 Traits colleges look for in applicants :

• Drive (grit)
• Contribution
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Diversity of experience

People with these traits do exciting, meaningful things. The best way to demonstrate these traits in your essays is also the simplest: carefully choose the experiences you’ve had that best demonstrate 1 or more of the 5 Traits. Then talk about them straightforwardly. (Colleges are always saying they want to get to know you, but they mean something a lot more specific .)

That’s why our biggest advice for both the personal essay and supplements is to begin not with the prompts, but by brainstorming your own experiences —

• Academic work
• Extracurricular experiences
• Work experiences and domestic obligations
• Personal learnings, projects, hobbies.

Decide which 3-4 of your experiences are most compelling. These need to go into your essays. (Hopefully, the best of them are already in your personal statement — if not, here’s some guidance for how to make that as strong as possible.)

Once you know what 5-trait-demonstrating experiences you want to talk about in your essay, read through the prompts to see which best allows you to talk about them. 

Choosing your prompt — Ranking the strengths and potential weaknesses of each option

The prompts are:

The writing supplement topics for the 2022-2023 application cycle (400 word limit):

‍ OPTION 1 — A question that BC can help answer

Students at Boston College are encouraged to consider critical questions as they pursue lives of meaning and purpose. What is a question that matters to you and how do you hope Boston College will help you answer it?

Prompt’s thoughts on #1 :

• This is similar to a Why Us prompt (read The Simple Why Us Strategy That Works to make answering this easy.) 
• Why Us prompts are great in that they allow you to show your enthusiasm for Boston College and that you’ll be a good fit on campus — if you can do that, the admissions team will want to admit you.
• Why Us is a great place to display intellectual curiosity and connect your academic (and other) interests to what Boston College specifically has to offer. 

OPTION 2 — Racial Injustice

In 2020, we faced a national reckoning on racial injustice in America - a reckoning that continues today. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, or how you have been inspired to be a change agent around this important issue.

Prompt’s thoughts on #2 :

• This is a great prompt for showcasing contribution as well as initiative or intellectual curiosity , depending on your experience.
• Potential pitfall #1 — Focusing your essay just on how the racial justice reckoning has “affected you.” We suggest making sure you also address either “what you have learned” or “How you have been inspired to be a change agent” in your answer. Otherwise, you’ll come off as passive, which isn’t what you want in your application.
• Potential pitfall #2 — Writing something that’s too controversial. Ok, BC isn’t asking this question to hear wimpy answers — they understand that teenagers have big passions and radical ideas. On the other hand, this could be difficult political territory. And there is potentially a generational divide between you and the reader. There’s potential to come across as insufficiently concerned, on the one hand, or as too divorced from reality, on the other. Something to be aware of.

‍ OPTION 3 — conversation

At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner?  What do you discuss with that person?

Prompt’s thoughts on #3 :

• Another good prompt for showcasing intellectual curiosity .
• Potential pitfall #1 — It’s important not to come off as too passive in this answer, going beyond what it asks “what do you discuss?” Instead, also talk about what actions your conversations spur you to take. And what you’ve done with the knowledge or affirmation that comes from these conversations. 
• Potential pitfall #2 — The question asks you who the conversation partner is. That’s fine, but keep the focus primarily on yourself and your actions — you are the one seeking admission to BC, not this other person!

OPTION 4 — the examined life

Socrates stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Discuss a time when reflection, prayer, or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.

‍ Prompt’s thoughts on #4 :

• An excellent prompt. Not only is this great for showcasing intellectual curiosity , but, unlike #3 above, it pushes you to talk about how your intellectual curiosity spurred you to action — unlocking initiative, drive, or contribution as well.    
• ✨This prompt will likely lead to a strong essay.✨

OPTION 5 — book rec

Each year at University Convocation, the incoming class engages in reflective dialogue around a common text. What book would you recommend for your class to read and explore together – and why?

Prompt’s thoughts on #5 :

• Another great intellectual curiosity prompt. 
• You’ll do best with this prompt if you keep the focus on your journey with this book (rather than just the book itself) — how did you find this book? Why did you pick it up? What have you done with the wisdom or lessons learned from this book?
• Don’t choose a book that will “engage the incoming class,” choose a book that shines a light on one or more of the 5 Traits in you!

Note on all prompts : 

The best way to succeed with any of these is to use lots of “ I-statements ” and active verbs . Show what you do — whether it’s read books and solve math problems or take to the streets and attack entrenched power. 

BC is interested in you, not what you think about racial injustice now (which will almost certainly change) or your favorite book (same) or your conversational partner (same). Rather, it’s how you approach these things. 

Five options — Examples

OPTION 1 — A question that BC can help answer

EXAMPLE for #1

“What is the world made of?” 

This question has been guiding me since I fell in love with Geology on a camping trip. The leader was doing her PhD in Geological Sciences at Boston College! She was always stopping to examine pebbles, rocks, and cliff faces. I was so intrigued by this strange behavior that I started asking her about it — that’s when I learned that each rock we encounter has a unique history and unique formation. I was hooked.

Soon, I was urging my parents to stop at every road cut we saw on the side of the highway, to see if it had any interesting rocks. I was checking books on geology out of the library and heading over to the natural history museum so regularly that I got to know their curator of Geology. She ended up helping advise my senior project, which I’ll be devoting to studying questions of sea level during glacial cycles — something that can be observed directly at many locations here in Michigan. 

At Boston College, I’m eager to continue this learning as a Geological Sciences major. In particular, I’m intrigued by courses on Paleoclimate (the study of previous climates in different geologic ages), Stratigraphy and Sedimentation and, of course, as someone who got intrigued by rocks while camping, Geology of National Parks.

I’m also eager to connect what I learn about the history of our planet with its future. As the co-leader of my high school’s Environmental Club, preservation of our planet matters deeply to me. The club works to identify solvable environmental issues that our student body or the high school as an institution can tackle. 

Last year, we successfully implemented a composting program in our cafeteria. This year-long project involved rallying student and teacher support, so that administrators felt implementing the program mattered. Then working with administration through a number of obstacles — where to add the extra composting bins; hiring a new service to come collect it. 

At Boston College, I’d love to join EcoPledge , a student club I visited when I came to campus. They’re working on similar projects to ours, but on a bigger scale. Ultimately, I want to work on “What is the world made of?” I don’t want the answer to be “mostly plastic”! At BC, I want to understand how we got the beautiful planet we live on and work to keep that way.

Notes on Example for #1

• Word count: 400
• Note: the links are just for your reference - not necessary in your answer.
• 5 Traits : This essay shows intellectual curiosity (how far the student has pursued geology, doing a special project + getting mentorship from a curator), as well as initiative and drive (the club work). This student seems dynamic and exciting — an asset on campus.
• Weakness: Probably would be better to cut some of the “how I found Geology” stuff and beef up “what I do with geology now” stuff. 
• Fit at BC: The student also clearly knows BC’s offerings well and seems like a good fit — that they’re eager to join the campus and would do well at the school. All great stuff.
• Note: This essay talks about one academic interest and one extracurricular interest. That’s not necessary in this answer – most answers here probably just focus on one major interest, which is fine. 

‍ OPTION 2 — Racial Injustice

‍ EXAMPLE for #2 :

As a sophomore reporter for my school paper, I took up a story that I thought would be routine. Instead, it led me to advocate against my school district!

The story was on Building Bridges, a program that — with support from our public school district — ran a “community-driven process to name entrenched and long-standing barriers to equity.” I wanted to start with an anecdote from the community process that showed the need for change, then show how the recommendations would address it. Problem: few quotes from the process were made public and the ones that were didn’t discuss racist experiences — with one important exception: teachers having low expectations for students of color. 

As I continued covering many equity initiatives our school district undertook, I realized something was missing: a willing to talk about the fact that our district produces an alarming racial education gap, with Black and Latin students scoring much lower than White and Asian students on tests, taking fewer AP courses, and going on to colleges at lower rates.

As the school created “healing spaces and mental health supports” and an “Office of Anti-Racism and Equity,” they got prominent coverage, including from me. Meanwhile, these critical issues seemed to fade from view. 

As a Junior, I moved from “reporter” to “activist.” With guidance from our teaching advisor, I gathered a few reporters who were also interested in doing something. We formed a club to ensure that new diversity initiatives didn’t steal the spotlight from the fundamentals — our school is not serving Black and Latin students adequately.

Our advocacy has been simple. We ensure that at least one student attends and live-blogs every School Committee meeting. At that meeting, at least one student (often more) makes a comment about the inequities in the district’s actual stats. 

This work has generated positive coverage by our city newspaper (bitlink) and the Boston Globe (bitlink). We organized a 200-student protest of the Office of Anti-Racism and Equity on its first anniversary because it has failed to discuss test scores, graduation disparities, and college outcomes. 

This year, based on student and teacher feedback, we’re pushing for extra tutoring hours. Sexy? No. But we think it’s the best way to even the odds so every student succeeds and can break the cycle of poverty. 

Everyone wants to claim they’ve reckoned with race. I’ve learned that looking at the numbers is the best way to see if that’s so. 

• Word count: 405
• This essay shows a student who is driven , takes initiative and is intellectually curious in how they pursued this issue.
• This essay is also controversial, since some on the left think that test scores are themselves racist and might not support protesting an Office of Anti-Racism and Equity. This shows some of the potential risks of writing this essay. 
• Note on bitlinks — It’s always nice to provide a link the reader *could* go to if necessary. They likely won’t, but this is one way to show you are for real.

At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person?

‍ EXAMPLE for #3 :

My most prized conversation partner is the teacher-advisor for the movie club I founded at my high school. On a surface level, we discuss which movies to show at our monthly movie nights.  On a deeper level, we’re working on how to bring the community together through a popular event, and how to use movies to send a meaningful message.

For example, with fellow club members, we worked hard to promote Some Like it Hot as a fun event where audience members were to come in flapper garb or gangster costumes. At the same time, we co-hosted it with the LGBTQ Alliance and showed it on the Trans Day of Visibility, as a fun way of raising trans awareness. The night was a huge hit. It began with a brief presentation on issues facing trans students on the political landscape and what we can do. Then we all watched the movie, sipping Prohibition mocktails (lemonade). After the event, the alliance saw an increase of about 25 new members. 

Similarly, we worked to find the right movie to spread a meaningful environmental message. We didn’t want something preachy or superficial, like maybe Day After Tomorrow or Don’t Look Up . After a long discussion about which movies actually made us want to protect the planet, we finally decided on Princess Monoke by Miyazake.

We partnered with the bike club — one of their messages has been to try to get most students to bike to school, instead of driving. We felt that this was a small but real step that almost all students could take if the movie night inspired them. We raised money from the movie night (popcorn & candy sales) for the club, which finds used bikes and sells them cheaply or donates them. 

But sometimes our best conversations are simply about new movies. Why they thrilled us or let us down. Most recently, we split on Everything Everywhere All at Once . I thought it captured so much about paths not chosen and the strength of family love, despite mistakes made. My advisor thought it was too noisy and that the family scenes were unconvincing. Even though we didn’t come to an agreement, the discussion helped me articulate better why the movie had moved me so — and to remember that the choices I make now will determine my life. 

Notes on Example for #3 :

• Word count: 387
• 5 Traits : This student comes across as intellectually curious and driven /takes initiative . 
• The student talks about what they did and what they thought . The focus is on themselves, not the teaching advisor (conversation partner). 

‍ Example for Option #4 :

At the start of junior year, my mom got cancer. Everyone in our family was deeply affected — my dad with a lot more to do around the house, my two little brothers (seven and nine) who couldn’t rely on her anymore, me, and, of course, my mom herself.

At first, I decided I wouldn’t let my mom’s illness slow me down. She agreed. I continued with a full school schedule as well as a big part in the school play and Glee Club. I felt that this was the best way to deal with hardship — keep trucking. Don’t let it get to you. 

A month in, my family was doing badly. My dad missed bedtimes, for example, and my brothers were always cranky at school from lack of sleep. He was also really stressed about his job, because of new nonstop responsibilities like taking my mom to doctors’ appointments.

At times, I thought about quitting some of the things I’d taken on. But I didn’t want to let people down, especially my mom who encouraged my high school success. 

One night, my dad was discussing my mom’s next chemotherapy session. He wanted me to babysit the boys. Instead, I set up a playdate. The next day, as I was enjoying some rare junior-year solitude, I ditched my half-done homework, and went for a long walk. 

I realized that if I cut down on my activities, our household would be happier. And that the reasons stopping me from quitting my activities were flimsier than I thought. I wouldn’t really be letting anyone down who wouldn’t understand. More profoundly, I saw that I’d been thinking of domestic chores as lesser than visible roles (being in a play). But was that true? In ten years, looking back on this time, the play wouldn’t matter to me, or glee club, or even an AP class. What would matter was that I stepped up for people who needed me. 

This alone time gave me the clarity not just to quit my extracurriculars to be there for my family, but also to explain the reasoning in a way that made sense to my parents. I had figured out what was right for me and my certainty worked for them. To this day, I’ll never regret it. I carved out the space I needed to come to the right decision for me. 

‍ Notes on example #4:

• 5 Traits: This student clearly has drive and initiative . 
• The student focuses on actions that they took, not just their thinking process, showcasing themselves as a dynamic student. 

EXAMPLE for option #5

This might seem ludicrous, but I recommend Marilyn Monroe’s memoirs My Story . What I loved about reading these memoirs was discovering the disconnect between America’s most glamorous Hollywood product and the struggle that it took her to arrive at that position — an equally American story, though one much easier to ignore. 

Monroe describes the many years she struggled to feed herself, even as she prioritized voice and dance lessons, in pursuit of her acting goal. She talks about the perseverance and insight it took her to transform the effect she had on men into an art form. At one point, she says her first big part in a John Huston film was inspired by Mae West, Theda Bera, and Bo Peep. Her dumb blonde persona came about not from God-given attributes, but out of her hard work and brilliant insights. 

All of us should learn that hard work and imagination usually underpin glamorous images. 

For example, at this point, I’m leaving behind an exceptionally successful film club at the high school. (I read Monroe’s biography in preparation for our showing of Some Like it Hot ). Today, each monthly movie night is a popular event, usually in a meaningful partnership with a student club (ex: the LGBTQ Alliance for Hot ). 

But when I started, the club was a flop. I wanted to share my love of movies with the high school, but nobody came to my events, no matter how long I spent promoting them. Like Marilyn, I had to take my apprenticeship seriously before achieving success: I talked with leaders and teaching advisors of successful clubs and learned from them how to gather broad student support instead of trying to foist my ideas on others. 

Now I know that every successful movie night needs to be undergirded with a strong foundation: reaching out to partners, working to find ways to make the night fun and festive (flappers and gangster costumes!), and ideally having a larger purpose (ex: celebrating Trans Day of Awareness). 

If Marilyn Monroe could experience failure, then anyone can fail. Her persistence wasn’t just in “hard work,” but rather in taking her dream seriously, working on crafting her art and her persona. Similarly, we need to take our dreams seriously, and recognize that making a dream succeed takes hard work as well as art, insight, and delight. 

Notes on example 5 :

• Word count: 398
• 5 Traits: This example showcases intellectual curiosity (the depth of the student’s knowledge of cinema to have read this memoir, for example), and drive/initiative (the work to set up the cinema club).
• This essay spends two valuable paragraphs discussing Marilyn Monroe up top — but she is not interested in getting admitted to BC. That is one of the potential pitfalls of this essay prompt. It pushes you to discuss something other than yourself. Think carefully about that issue if you choose this prompt. 

Acing the Human-Centered Engineering prompt: Follow the “Why Us” playbook

‍ Here is the required question for Human-Centered Engineering major applicants:

One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Our advice:

Like option 1, discussed above, this is essentially a Why Us question. Why Us prompts seek to ensure that students are a good fit at that school (do well in the major) and that you’ll likely choose the school or program if admitted. 

What this means is that you simply have to articulate your interests that led you to the Human-Centered Engineering major and then do enough research to show how those interests fit with what BC has on offer. (Presumably you’ve already done some of this.)

Human-Centered Engineering — example

I recently read that developments in solar electricity are outpacing predictions, meaning that we will be able to switch away from fossil fuels earlier than expected. Well, I could have told you that! 

Ever since I first got a solar-powered calculator, I’ve wanted to be a solar electricity engineer. Last summer, I got to live part of that dream as an intern for a solar research facility. I gained a lot of technical expertise, but what really struck me was my coworkers’ enthusiasm and passion for the larger mission of using their advances to wean humankind from harmful energy sources. 

When I learned that BC had the human-centered engineering program, it went to the top of my list. I already knew I wanted to be an engineer, and always thought that combining it with an environmental mission would take some doing on my part. I’m excited to be part of a program that will do the hard work for me of ensuring that my technical expertise fits with practical, human-centered goals. 

At my internship, I saw how much human problems impact technical advances. For example, while the company’s solar panels were getting more efficient and stronger, they faced political hurdles in securing customers and placements. That’s why I welcome forming my engineering prowess with an understanding of human-centered design, especially how stake-holder groups impact technological deployment. It can be depressing to build something great when nobody decides to use it. 

I was so excited about this program that I arranged with the school’s office to shadow a human-centered engineering student. I loved sitting in their engineering classes, as well as a sociology class that offered the broader context I’m interested in. But more than anything I loved chatting with my “shadow” buddy and their friends at lunch — learning about why they’d chosen this major and their concentrations, what they’re hoping to do this summer and in life. I can’t wait to be part of a community like that. 

Notes on the example essay :

• Word count : 328
• 5 Traits : This essay shows a student with intellectual curiosity (their interest in engineering) as well as drive (securing the internship, arranging to meet a human-centered engineering student). 
• Fit : This essay shows how the student knows exactly what the major is about and consists of and indicates the student would be a strong fit. 
• Weakness : This essay is a bit weak on the student’s interests in engineering. That could use some more detail and elaboration. However, it’s a fake essay written by a person without an engineering background, so apologies for that. 

Helpful info on all the “other” stuff you’ll consider as you apply to BC (and other schools)

A few helpful resources for the non-supplement parts of your application:

• Common App : Since BC requires the Common App , read our guide to acing everything to do with writing your Common App application . 
• Test scores: Since BC is test-optional , here is our guidance for deciding whether or not to submit . 
• Early options: BC offers Early Decision I and II, as well as Regular Decision and “Spring Freshmen .” To figure it all out, read our Early Admissions article so you know how to approach this decision. 

BTW, here’s our guidance for approaching any college supplement + here’s where you can find our guides for almost every college’s supplements . 

Feeling inspired? A great place to start is at our College Essay Help Center . 

More articles on Prompt.com’s admissions-boosting methods:

• Work with a college essay coach
• Strong essays increase your chance of admission by up to 10x
• Don’t let influencers influence your college essays
• Should I apply test-optional?
• Early admissions: Everything you need to know
• College Essay Help Center

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How to Write the Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

August 18, 2023

Are you ready to tackle the Boston College supplemental essay prompts? As one of the top universities in the country, Boston College is known for its strong academic programs and vibrant campus community. But before you can become a part of the Boston College family, you'll need to impress the admissions committee with your writing skills. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of writing the supplemental essay prompts for Boston College, helping you showcase your unique qualities and demonstrate why you're a perfect fit for this prestigious institution. So grab your pen and get ready to dive into the world of Boston College supplemental essays!

Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the first four prompts below (400 word limit). Students applying to the Human Centered Engineering major should respond to Prompt #5 instead.

Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?

When considering this prompt, think about what the purpose of this prompt is, outside of the question itself. What are admissions officers really trying to get you to speak about?  InGenius Prep’s Former Admissions Officer Zak Harris says, "For me, it’s very easy to take away that BC cares about community engagement and shared goals/values." So when you are selecting the book that you recommend for your incoming class to read, consider the underlying themes that would resonate with the values of Boston College. For example, look for a book that explores the power of bringing people together. Think about how the book promotes growth and shared perspectives, fostering a sense of community and understanding among your peers.

While it may be tempting to choose a book directly related to your college major, think outside the box – especially if you've already discussed your major in your personal statement. Look for a book that aligns with your application persona and showcases your unique interests and passions. Zak also adds, “Avoid controversial authors, books, and topics. This is true for most prompts, but especially as you are thinking about the very specific nature of the question.” By choosing a book that can be appreciated by a diverse range of perspectives, you can ensure that your recommended book will resonate with your incoming class and promote a sense of unity and shared experience among your peers. 

At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

For this prompt, Zak says, "All of our stories and backgrounds are different, but if you choose this prompt, the person and the viewpoint need to be objectively important." The conversation you reference needs to be one that you can fully flesh out in 400 words – if not, this prompt might not be the best option for you. 

As you brainstorm potential candidates, reflect on the role they have played in your life and the impact they have had on your beliefs and values. Think about those who have acted as inspirational figures in your life that have sparked personal growth and transformation – it could be a family member, a close friend, a teacher, or a mentor who has helped shape your worldview. This reflection is important because you want to be very intentional about the person you choose and the conversation you reference. Consider the pros and cons of choosing each person, evaluating their ability to foster meaningful conversations and encourage personal development.

Then, take your time to fully flesh out the experience, highlighting the nuances and insights gained from the exchange. By providing vivid details and examples, you will paint a compelling picture of the intellectual and emotional growth that occurred during this conversation. E xplore a topic that is deeply meaningful to you and be specific in your storytelling, providing detailed examples and insights gained from the conversation. The goal of this prompt is to convey the depth of your intellectual curiosity and your willingness to engage with differing viewpoints, so choose a person who has played a vital role in challenging your perspectives and fostering personal growth.

In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “ The Danger of a Single Story ,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

Similar to the last question, you want to identify an interaction that matches the complexities of this prompt. Don't force it if this prompt doesn’t fit within your experiences or you can’t think of something to write about! The bright side here is that you have three other prompts to choose from.

But if you do choose this prompt, rely on emotion and become vulnerable in your writing. Show the admissions officers the depth of your experience and allow them to truly understand how it has shaped you since then. It's not just about recounting what happened, but also about reflecting on the impact it has had on you and your personal growth. Zak also adds, “When discussing difficult topics, it’s not about having all of the answers, but more so about letting the reader into your story, so they can feel how you’re feeling.” Letting admissions officers into your emotions and experiences will create a stronger connection and make your essay more impactful. The goal is to convey the significance of this single story and how it has shaped your perspective, values, and outlook on life.

Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

This pr ompt is a great opportunity for you to not only showcase your passion for your intended college major but also to highlight any relevant experiences you've had in high school. Zak points out, "The fact that Boston College emphasizes the importance of "people" in this prompt shows that they genuinely care about the issues that matter to you. They want to know what you are truly passionate about."

Additionally, you have the option to choose between a local or global issue, indicating that Boston College has no preference – you have the freedom to choose whichever issue is closest to your heart. The key is to ensure that the issue you focus on comes from a genuine place within you. Keep in mind that admissions officers can easily tell when an issue is chosen just because it "sounds good." Instead, focus on selecting an issue that truly resonates with you on a personal level. Incorporate personal anecdotes or experiences that have shaped your perspective on the chosen issue. Share how you have been directly impacted by it or how you have witnessed its effects in your community. By adding these personal touches, you can create a more engaging and impactful essay.

Remember, the goal is not to provide a generic response but to showcase your unique perspective and demonstrate how your Boston College education can be a catalyst for addressing the issue you care deeply about. Let your passion and genuine concern shine through in your writing, and the admissions committee will be able to see the potential impact you can make with your education.

One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

For Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) applicants, you want to make sure that your response aligns with your intended major and showcases real evidence from your activities list. This could include projects, research, internships, or any other relevant activities that demonstrate your passion and dedication to solving societal problems. Highlight the outcomes achieved through these experiences, emphasizing the positive impact you have made on the individuals or communities affected by these problems.

Remember, admissions officers are not looking for a perfect solution and definitely do not expect you to have all the answers to these societal problems. Instead, they want to see your commitment and innovative thinking when it comes to addressing these problems. Share your ideas, strategies, and approaches for how you plan to use your HCE education to contribute to the solution. Showcase your ability to think critically and creatively, and how you can leverage your technical knowledge and humanistic perspective to make a difference.

By demonstrating your passion, commitment, and ability to think outside the box, you can show the admissions committee that you are not only prepared to tackle societal challenges but also eager to do so with the help of your Human-Centered Engineering education.

Additional Tips for the Boston College Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Here are a few additional tips to help you write your supplemental essays: .

• Vulnerability will always lead to a compelling essay. When you embrace vulnerability in your writing, you give the admissions officers a glimpse into your true self. You show them that you are not just presenting a polished image or trying to impress them with achievements and accomplishments. Instead, you are willing to reveal your vulnerabilities and share the lessons you have learned from them. And when the admissions officers can feel what you felt, they are more likely to remember your essay and understand the impact that particular experience had on your personal growth.
• But stay authentic! Your vulnerability should never be forced or exaggerated. It should come from a genuine place within you. While it's important to be honest about challenges and hardships, it's equally important to reflect on the growth and resilience that resulted from those experiences.
• Avoid controversial topics. While it may be tempting to choose a controversial or polarizing subject to make your essay stand out, it's important to consider the potential consequences of doing so. Remember, the purpose of these essays is to showcase your ability to think critically, reflect on your experiences, and contribute positively to the Boston College community. By focusing on topics that are inclusive, respectful, and aligned with the values of the university, you can create an essay that stands out for all the right reasons.
• Don't stress about a "right" or "wrong " answer. Admissions officers understand that you may not have all the answers or have solved all the world's problems. They are more interested in seeing how you think and reflect on your experiences. They want to see your commitment to making a positive impact and the steps you have taken to contribute to the world around you, no matter how small or big. It could be as simple as volunteering at a local shelter, starting an awareness campaign, or even initiating a community project. So don't stress about having the right answers, but rather focus on expressing your thoughts, reflections, and steps in a genuine and compelling way.

When choosing a topic for the Boston College supplemental essay 2023-2024 , select one that holds personal meaning and reflects your unique journey the best. Use vivid details and examples throughout your response to bring your story to life. By doing so, you will not only showcase your intellectual curiosity and willingness to engage with differing viewpoints but also demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact on the world around you as a future Boston College student.

If you are looking for a college admissions counselor to help maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, we can help! InGenius Prep has helped more than 6,000 students around the world gain admission into the most competitive schools including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more. Sign up for a free strategy call today and join the 6,000+ students we've helped get accepted into their dream schools. 

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How to Answer the Boston College Supplemental Essay

Bonus Material : PrepMaven’s Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet

Many top-tier universities and colleges in the U.S. now require applicants to submit at least one additional essay. 

Boston College is one of these colleges–it requires students to submit one 400-word essay in addition to their personal statement.

What are the prompts for this essay? And how should you respond?

We’ve got the answers to these questions in this post. We also give readers access to a great resource: the top 50 most selective colleges in the U.S. and their supplemental essays for 2020-2021, in one easy-to-read spreadsheet.

Grab it below.

Download Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet

Here’s what we cover:

• Boston College’s Supplemental Essay Prompt for 2020-2021

Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

Boston college supplemental essay prompt #2, boston college supplemental essay prompt #3, boston college supplemental essay prompt #4.

• Bonus: PrepMaven’s Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet

Boston College’s Supplemental Essay for 2020-2021

Students applying to Boston College only have to write one 400-word supplemental essay. However, they do have to choose between four prompts .

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts. (400 word limit)

1. Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration?

2. When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community?

3. Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why?

4. Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good?

In the next section, we provide pointers for responding to each of these four prompts.

How to Respond to Each Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompt

• Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration? (400 words)

We encourage students to select one specific work of art to discuss in this essay response. Think broadly here. Consider what comes to mind when you think of the following, for example:

• Your most-played Spotify playlists or songs
• The books on your bookshelf
• Syllabi from past English classes
• Speeches you’ve heard or studied 
• Spoken word poetry

You might want to build a list of works at first and narrow down from there. If you have trouble narrowing your list down, jump ahead to the next set of questions. Ideally, the work of art you choose should give you a lot of room to discuss its impact on you.

Once you’ve identified the song, poem, speech, or novel you’d like to discuss, ask yourself the following questions.

• What are this piece of art’s main themes? 
• Social issues
• Relationships, etc.
• What were the circumstances under which you encountered this work of art?
• What were your initial impressions? 
• What are your current impressions? (Do they differ from your initial impressions?)
• What specific insights has this work of art generated?
• Does it inspire you? In what way?
• What does this work of art have to do with your beliefs, values, and/or perspectives of the world?

When crafting your response, students should identify the work of art from the outset and offer a brief description. Don’t be shy about plunging in, as you only have 400 words for your response. Here’s an example of what that might look like:

I first encountered Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” in my sophomore year English class, during a time when literature had not yet taken the priority it has today in my life.  

It’s also vital to spend less time describing this work of art and more time describing how it has inspired or influenced you in the essay as a whole. The admissions readers will be more interested in the part of this response that concerns you after all!

Your essay should, for example, be rich with the following kind of statements.

“The Great Gatsby”’s interrogation of the American Dream has challenged me to redefine what “success” actually means to me; in fact, it has motivated me to more precisely articulate my academic and personal goals in terms of their relationship to my core values.

Feel free to connect the insights you’ve drawn to other aspects of your life, too, such as extracurricular activities, service projects, and independent research, but these should serve only as examples of actions this work of art has inspired.

A nice way to conclude your essay might be referencing this piece of art’s current role in your life, as in the following example:

I know I will always keep a copy of “The Great Gatsby ” on my bookshelf as a reminder of the importance of human relationships, honesty, and integrity.

• When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? (400 words)

This prompt is very broad, which can be both beneficial and challenging for students. With this prompt, however, admissions officers are interested in diversity . They are also interested in diversity that will “enrich” the campus community, which means that this prompt is also interested in what you have to offer or contribute .

What do we mean by “diversity”? Diversity can refer to any of the following:

• Cultural background
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Socioeconomic circumstances
• Religious traditions
• Perspectives

We encourage students to learn more about the Boston College community and its values before responding to this prompt. You can do so by attending virtual information sessions, for example, or spending some time on the BC website.

Identifying school mission statements can also be helpful for picking a place to start here. Boston College’s mission encompasses service, the search for truth, academic excellence, and research.

You might want to use some of these keywords to think about the part of your specific story that might “enrich” the BC community. Here are some sample questions to ask:

• What experiences have I had in searching for truth?
• What have my encounters with service looked like?
• What is distinct or unique about my background?

As with all of these prompts, it’s more important to choose an experience or aspect of your background that will give you a lot to say about what you have to bring to this campus community. 

What’s more, because of the broadness of this prompt, you can feel free to refer to a broader component of “your story,” as opposed to one specific experience, including heritage, identity, traditions, language, and beliefs.

When responding to this prompt, make sure to give ample room to the following:

• The part of your story that you want to highlight (and what this says about your own specific diversity)
• How this will enrich the Boston College community

It’s often easier for students to tackle the first bullet point here, and harder to address the second. That’s okay, as the first bullet point, according to the language of the prompt, is the most important.

But you don’t want to leave admissions officers guessing about that enrichment factor here. You’ll want at least a few sentences that speak to your own understanding of how you’ll enrich this community, as in this example:

Through these experiences, I have learned the social resonance of being bilingual, and how language really is the key to creating stronger communities. I am eager to bring this attention to the words that connect us to Boston College, which places a premium on diversity and community.

Notice how this example specifically identifies what this applicant intends to offer BC. This is important! These lines also serve as a great conclusion.

• Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? (400 words)

This is a long, fancy way of asking students the following question: what do you think the most pressing issue in the world is, and why?

It’s also important to notice the buzzwords Boston College incorporates into this prompt: “liberal arts,” “quality,” “personal formation,” and “critical issues.” As you reflect on the pressing issue or question you’d like to discuss, keep these terms in mind. Ideally, the issue you choose should come from a place of deep honesty and also have to do with something that is critical and meaningful on multiple levels.

It seems like a tall order, but ask yourself the following questions as you brainstorm:

• What issue keeps you up at night?
• What question hasn’t yet been answered that you desperately want to answer?
• If you could solve one problem in the world with a snap of your fingers, what would it be?
• What stands in the way of the common good currently?

The prompt is broad enough that you can literally choose any question or problem you wish (“enduring” or “contemporary”), on any scale, to address.

Once you’ve selected your question or problem, think about the following:

• Why does this matter?
• On what scale(s) does this matter?
• How did you first encounter this question or problem? How do you currently engage with it?
• Why is it important for students to learn about this?
• What impact would examining this problem or issue have? On what levels?
• What does this say about you?

When writing your response, spend less time discussing the question or issue and more time describing its meaning. Your perceived meaning of this issue is, after all, what admissions officers are most interested in, as it says a lot about who you are as an individual in this world and your capacity for self-awareness.

Be sure to specifically identify this problem or question from the outset, for clarity’s sake. Here’s an example:

In my college course, I would address the following question: What does it actually mean to be a feminist in 2021?

If you’ve chosen something rather broad, be sure to describe what you would specifically focus on within that broader category, as in this example:

In my college course, I would address the following question: What does it actually mean to be a feminist in 2021? Specifically, I would encourage my students to consider how the definition of feminism has evolved since its inception and approach modern feminism through the lenses of race and media.

As you discuss the meaning of this question or issue, be sure you’re very clear about the following two things:

• why you are personally invested in this issue / question
• why it matters on a larger scale

You can address the first bullet point by incorporating personal anecdote, if you’d like. This is a great way to introduce the second bullet point, too! Here’s an example:

I was raised in a household that claimed it was staunchly feminist. I read books with female protagonists and was told that to be a girl was to have a special superpower. Yet over the years, I’ve come to scrutinize this term in a new fashion.

• Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good? (400 words)

This prompt contains many excellent keywords that indicate what college admissions officers are interested in here. Keep these in mind as you are drafting your response:

• Growth 
• Beliefs and values 
• Common good

It is also a two-question prompt. Students should make sure that they respond adequately to both of these questions in their 400-word essay:

• What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today?
• Wow will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good?

Use the structure of these questions to your advantage! You can spend the first part of your essay discussing those beliefs and values and the second portion addressing how BC will assist you in thinking and acting for the “common good.” 

To begin, we recommend brainstorming your core values and beliefs. You might already have done some of this work prior to crafting your personal statement. We’ve provided some examples of values and beliefs below.

It can also be helpful to anchor these values and beliefs in specific experiences and/or anecdotes. This will make it easier to tell a story and to focus on your core values and beliefs (as opposed to all of them!).

For example, your value for honesty might be deeply related to your desire to pursue a career in law. Or perhaps your belief in “unity over division” is related to your commitment to social justice.

If you’re having trouble coming up with values and beliefs, think about the second part of the question: “inform your decisions and actions.” What guides the decisions that you make in your life? What inspires action?

Here is an excerpt from a sample response demonstrating an applicant’s beliefs and values:

I have always believed in the power of compassion, yet only fully understood the potential of this value when I started volunteering at a local shelter for women in recovery…Through this experience, I have learned that compassion is what unites us all despite our differences, and this is what guides every decision-making process.

Students often struggle with the second portion of this prompt. While this is not specifically a “why Boston College” prompt, students should be specific about how they foresee BC will help them with their character formation, specifically the formation of values that have to do with the “common good.”

The key word here is “how.” 

Once again, it can be helpful to learn more about Boston College’s mission and teaching philosophy. According to its website, for example, BC’s mission encompasses service, the search for truth, academic excellence, and research. Many of its courses encourage the act of self reflection and “asking of big questions.”

Think about how this mission and philosophy relates to the beliefs and values you’ve pinpointed. 

Then think about the other components of BC that will help you become an even better person . In other words, what about BC is going to help you grow as a person with a set of values (and not just a scholar)?

Consider the following:

• Your prospective major and that department at BC
• Extracurricular activities, especially service
• Opportunities at BC that reflect your values and beliefs

Here is an excerpt from a sample response:

Boston College’s commitment to service aligns with my profound desire to apply my innate compassion to all kinds of communities: a vibrant student body, a strong biology department, and the broader volunteering community.

Download Our Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet

Applying to several top-tier colleges? We’ve compiled the supplemental essay prompts for the 50 most selective U.S. colleges and universities in one FREE easy-to-access spreadsheet!

Here’s what you’ll get:

• The supplemental essay prompt(s) the 50 most selective U.S. colleges / universities
• Word limits for each prompt
• Application deadlines for each (early and regular)

Kate is a graduate of Princeton University. Over the last decade, Kate has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay.

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College Admissions , College Essays

Ranked among the top 40 colleges nationwide , Boston College is an excellent college choice, especially if you're hoping to attend a Jesuit institution. As part of the application process, you'll need to submit a Boston College essay. So what should you write about in your essay to raise your chances of getting admitted here?

In this guide, we closely analyze all Boston College essay prompts, providing you with our best tips and advice. We'll also take a look at real Boston College essay examples to give you an idea of what a successful Boston College essay can look like.

So let's get started!

What Is the Boston College Essay?

In addition to the Common Application essay prompts , Boston College requires all first-year applicants to submit a separate essay as part of the Boston College Supplement (which you can find in the Common App under the heading "Writing Supplement").

With this writing supplement, you have six possible essay prompts to choose from:

#1: Students at Boston College are encouraged to consider critical questions as they pursue lives of meaning and purpose. What is a question that matters to you and how do you hope Boston College will help you answer it?

#2: In 2020, we faced a national reckoning on racial injustice in America – a reckoning that continues today. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, or how you have been inspired to be a change agent around this important issue.

#3: At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person?

#4: Socrates stated that "the unexamined life is not worth living." Discuss a time when reflection, prayer, or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.

#5: Each year at University Convocation, the incoming class engages in reflective dialogue around a common text. What book would you recommend for your class to read and explore together – and why?

#6: [Open to Human-Centered Engineering Applicants only] One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Each essay prompt expects you to give specific details and a unique, compelling story of who you are, how you came to be this way, and what you hope to do with your education at Boston College.

Regardless of the essay prompt you choose, your Boston College essay must be no longer than 400 words, making it a little shorter than a typical application college essay, which is 500-600 words long.

The good news is you only have to answer one of the prompts listed above. But how can you choose the best essay prompt for you? Read on as we examine all the Boston College essay prompts, one by one.

All Boston College Essay Prompts, Analyzed

In order to submit a great Boston College essay, you'll need to know what each prompt is asking you to do and which one will work best based on your personality, experiences, and/or interests. Below, we offer a close analysis of all four Boston College essay prompts.

Boston College Essay Prompt 1

Students at Boston College are encouraged to consider critical questions as they pursue lives of meaning and purpose. What is a question that matters to you and how do you hope Boston College will help you answer it?

This first Boston College essay prompt looks a little inscrutable at first: you’re being asked to provide not an answer, but a question. However, what Boston College is asking from you here is to talk about academic fields or social issues you’re interested in, and why Boston College is the place to explore them.

This essay is a great opportunity for you to delve into a specific idea or problem you want to learn more about in college. The topic you choose for your essay can be pretty much anything, from an ancient philosophical theory to how smart phones impact American culture.

In short, what excites, interests, or captivates you intellectually? And why?

Before tackling this question, take time to consider what you're passionate about. That can be an academic field you want to study, a challenging problem in your future career field, or a contemporary social issue.

Should You Choose This Prompt?

Most applicants have some idea of what they want to study in college. So if there's a particular field you're interested in, you can use this as a jumping-off point. Narrow your topic so you'll be discussing a very specific question. For example, if you plan to major in psychology, you might frame your essay around the question, “How is our increased reliance on social media changing our behaviors?” 

You can also approach this prompt from a social perspective. Are there any problems in contemporary society that you want to study further? For example, perhaps you’re concerned about wealth inequality in the United States. You could create a question that asks how wealth inequality has changed over the past fifty years, and what we might do to counter it.

With this topic, the sky's pretty much the limit. Here are some other potential topics you could create questions around:

• Environmental issues or climate change
• Political/economic instability or other problems in a country/area
• Discrimination, stigmas, or other issues relating to inequality
• Potential challenges facing technology, science, the arts, specific industries, etc.

The main thing here is that you do not need to answer your question! Instead, you’ll devote a significant part of your essay to saying why Boston College is the best place for you to find answers to your question. Here’s your chance to show that you’ve done your research: bring up relevant departments, faculty members, current research projects, individual courses, and campus groups that will help you with your goal. Clearly show how Boston College will help you answer your question.

Tips for Answering This Prompt

• Explain why you are so invested in your question. Do you have direct experience with the issue you're focusing on? How did (or does) it make you feel? This is a place to show off your intellectual curiosity , and that you’re interested in the Big Questions.
• Connect your question to Boston College as specifically as possible. Boston College admissions counselors want to know that your application is purposeful. You don’t, and shouldn’t, have an answer to your question, but you should have a very clear idea on why Boston College is the best place to find answers.

Boston College Essay Prompt 2

In 2020, we faced a national reckoning on racial injustice in America - a reckoning that continues today. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, or how you have been inspired to be a change agent around this important issue.

This second Boston College essay prompt is very specific, and asks you to do some pretty serious reflecting. You have options: you could discuss your personal experience with racial injustice or what you’ve seen in your community. Perhaps you’ve been personally affected, or perhaps your loved ones have. Maybe something happened in your town that forced you to confront racial injustice on a much more personal level than you expected.

Note, too, that the prompt asks what you have learned and how you’ve been inspired to be a change agent —in other words, if you haven’t yet been able to act on your desire to challenge racial injustice on a larger level, you should still consider this prompt. Ultimately, Boston College wants you to reflect on yourself and your relationship to larger concepts of societal injustice. It’s a tall order, and you’ll need to stay as personal, honest, and specific as possible.

There are, unfortunately, many ways to write about racial injustice in America right now. Here are some examples:

• Your personal experience with racial injustice
• A loved one’s experience with racial injustice
• Specific examples of racial injustice in your community
• The first (or the most vivid) time you recognized racial injustice
• Be as specific as possible . Boston College doesn’t want to just know your opinion on racial injustice—they want to see you, and how you work with difficult, systemic issues. Use concrete examples, and show your innermost self (or as much of it as you’re comfortable sharing).
• Relate your experience to your college career. Boston College clearly cares about racial justice. Their Campus Ministry page on racial justice links to many campus resources to combat racial injustice. Mention specific programs and groups that you want to engage with while you’re in college, and show that Boston College is the best place for you to continue to learn about and fight racial injustice.

Boston College Essay Prompt 3

At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person?

This prompt is another great way to show Boston College who you are and what you value . They’re also reminding you pretty clearly here that Boston College is a Jesuit school that values intellectual growth, character formation, and dedication to positive social change. In short, this isn’t the place to talk about the Star Wars fan theories you share with your dad (no matter how cool they are). Instead, think about the person you have deep conversations with. Maybe it’s your best friend, your partner, or a family member. Maybe you’ve bonded with one of your teachers, and you meet up to talk about saving the world, one conversation at a time. This prompt is in two parts: describe your conversation partner, and describe what you discuss. Make sure to paint a clear picture of your conversation partner—why they’re your favorite person to talk to, and what they bring to the table—but also leave room not only for what you talk about, but why you talk about it. Finally, find a way to relate your conversations to your future studies at Boston College. Maybe you bonded with a youth minister and still routinely talk about social change; connect this to similar campus organizations and programs.

This prompt is a great way for you to show Boston College who you are, what you value, and how you connect with others.  

Consider writing about someone you routinely discuss related values with, like:

• Morality/ethics
• Empathy/compassion for others
• Societal issues
• The “big questions” in life
• Choose an appropriate conversation partner. It doesn’t have to be someone you know in real life—pen pals can be just as influential as the people we talk to! But you should make sure that the person you’re writing about is someone that you engage in deep, meaningful conversation with.
• Explain your discussion topics and their importance in detail. This is your chance to share your passion for service, big ideas, and community! Make sure to share why you talk about these subjects with your partner, and why they’re important to you.

Boston College Essay Prompt 4

Socrates stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Discuss a time when reflection, prayer, or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.

Boston College is a highly ranked Jesuit institution , so it's not surprising that the school is curious about applicants' values. The purpose of this prompt is to help Boston College understand how your own values will fit with and further promote the Jesuit principles of ethics and community service.

This essay prompt can be broken down into two basic questions:

• What issues are most important to you?
• How do you approach big subjects in your inner world?

If you’re the introspective type, this is an excellent prompt for you. As a prominent Jesuit institution, Boston College highly values service, reflection, and morality. This is the perfect prompt to show them that you do, too.

Some topics you could write about in your essay include the following:

• Changing your mind about a subject you’re passionate about
• Realizing your values have changed
• Realizing your beliefs no longer match up with your family’s
• Your thought process after a major event/life change
• Focus on one specific issue. For instance, you might talk about your complicated feelings about eating meat, and factory farming, and the decisions you made regarding what you are and are not willing to eat and why.
• Make sure the issue is important, and aligns with Boston College’s values. In other words, this isn’t the place to write about how you agonized over changing your starter word in Wordle. Show Boston College your deepest thoughts. They want to see them!

Boston College Essay Prompt 5

Each year at University Convocation, the incoming class engages in reflective dialogue around a common text. What book would you recommend for your class to read and explore together – and why?

This is a prompt you may have seen from other schools as well—Boston College is asking you to discuss a book that you care about. However, this is not about your favorite book. Instead, they want to know which book you think is so important that the entire first-year class at BC reads and discusses it. That means you need to choose a book for more than just how much pleasure it brings you. It also needs to have some intellectual heft to it. That is, pick a book that makes you think, and, ideally, has changed you as a person.

Maybe you read a novel in sophomore English that hit you so hard it restructured your DNA. Or maybe you found a book through a podcast (or BookTok!) that you’d never heard of, and opened your eyes to a new way of seeing the world. You have a lot of options here—just make sure you pick something that you care about that aligns with Boston College’s values. Don’t forget to check their list of previous University Convocation books to get a good idea of what they want.

This prompt is asking you to do two things:

• Choose a book for convocation
• Say why you chose it

This is a great prompt to show off your exquisite taste in books as well as your knowledge and understanding of Boston College’s values.

Consider books that:

• Introduced you to a new culture, subculture, or nationality
• Made you reevaluate the way you see your world
• Told a powerful story, fiction or nonfiction
• Choose an appropriate book. Remember: Boston College doesn’t want to know your favorite book. They want you to talk about a book that affected you so profoundly that you want to share it with the entire incoming class.
• State explicitly why you chose it. Make sure that your text aligns with Boston College’s values. Show that you know what Boston College wants by recommending a book that’s perfect for them!

Boston College Essay Prompt 6

For Human-Centered Engineering major applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

First off, you should only choose this prompt if you’re majoring in Human-Centered Engineering. If you are, read on! Otherwise, you’re all done!

Human-Centered Engineering is one of BC’s newest programs, which combines engineering with liberal arts. This prompt is asking you to show that you’re an excellent fit through:

• Choosing an appropriately-sized problem (or problems)
• Saying why they’re important to you
• Saying how you want to solve them
• Showing Boston College that the HCE program is necessary to your solution

No problem, right? You got this! Now’s your chance to show Boston College that you can dream a little bigger, and that your values align with theirs. Because Boston College is a Jesuit school that values service to the community, you should think about societal issues that appeal specifically to them. For example, you may be interested in studying racial discrimination in housing developments or interstate highway projects; you could absolutely mention Boston College’s Racial Justice program and how it will be integral to your future work.

Remember: this is a highly-specialized engineering program that requires connection to the liberal arts and to service. Show that you care about all three in your answer!

If you’re applying to the HCE program, you have no choice—you’re required to choose this one! But it’s a pretty neat prompt that allows you to specifically tell Boston College why you’re a perfect fit for one another. Consider choosing a problem that:

• Has a large impact on your community, or a community you care about
• Has been historically underserved
• Is solvable, and specific
• Choose a specific problem that you care about. The trick here is to describe a problem that you can feasibly help end. This means you need to be as specific as you can. For example, “world hunger,” while a significant problem, is too broad of a subject; instead, you could look at food deserts in your community.
• State explicitly why the HCE program is the only one that will help you solve it. This is the “Why Boston College” essay—it’s your time to show that you’ve done your homework and know the HCE program inside and out.That means you should specifically mention professors, projects, and courses that you think will help you achieve your goal

Boston College Essay Examples

Now, let's take a look at two real Boston College essay examples written by admitted applicants.

Note that since the Boston College essay prompts change frequently, so these essays might not correspond directly to one of the four prompts listed above. But you'll still get a sense for what makes a good Boston College essay and what admissions counselors are looking for. 

Boston College Essay Example 1

This first Boston College essay we'll look at could have easily been written for the second prompt described above (the diversity essay prompt) as it focuses on the applicant's unique multicultural background.

Note that this sample essay is more than 550 words, whereas the current Boston College essay requirements state that essays may not exceed 400 words.

Here is the essay:

"Happy birthday!" "Feliz cumpleanos!" "Kol sana wa enta tayyab!" After my family sings me happy birthday in English, Spanish, and Arabic, I blow out the candles on my cake amidst thunderous cheers that reverberate throughout the five boroughs of New York City. My birthday celebrations, likened by my friends to United Nations assemblies, feature my one, cohesive, yet ever so dissimilar, family, stepping out of their respective Ecuadorian and Egyptian roles to further thrust upon me their expectations. Some would fold under this pressure, but I embrace this trust. While they have not always been able to put me in optimal positions, it has all congregated to a driving force in my cultured and diverse mind.

My never ending quest to achieve success for my family began at a young age, through my trips to Ecuador and Egypt. I not only grew fond of their eloquent languages, but of their modest values. On my first trip to Ecuador as a toddler, my Uncle Guillermo was found dead in an alley one morning, no cause, no explanation. Instead of shielding me from the forlorn passing of one of my heroes, my relatives used this as an opportunity to develop my value for awareness. They told me that Guillermo's death was linked to his severe alcoholism. He had been afflicted for decades, all while selling away the family's possessions to fuel his addiction. He, like many from the impoverished, drug ridden country, knew no better. Some would view a traumatizing event like this as an excuse to end up along a similar path, but it immediately ingrained in me the farsighted principles that I maintain to this day. There are no excuses for me to approach education halfheartedly, for I have witnessed the malevolent effects of ignorance.

When my grandma, Anisa Saad, told me that she views my future with the same reverence that she views the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, I finally realized how delicate my actions are. I knew that making something out of myself meant just as much to my family as it did to me. The Egyptian Revolution was the first time since 1981 that Egyptians had a voice. As they overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, they created an irrevocable identity. They proved that regardless what comprises your past or your background, your impact on the world is only what you make of it. My grandma told me that all she could think about as she cast her vote in the first ever democratic election was that she was changing the world. She said that if a 78-year-old widow living with three of her children and a bad back could change the world, a prioritized pupil with a keen understanding of different societies has boundless potential.

In New York City, the quintessential hub of culture, I found it easier to expand on my expectations and values. I am most people's culturally passionate friend rather than the kid whose ethnicity is indeterminable. I am a New Yorker's idea of a New Yorker; an assiduous product of the "melting pot." No idea is too farfetched to believe, no goal too unattainable. With my grandma's words in mind, I face any problem that the Concrete Jungle throws at me. I seek to make sure the Salazar's of Ecuador and the Badran's of Egypt finally have significant names in the world. I want to blow out my birthday candles with a family proud that I made it, not hoping that I do.

Here's what makes this Boston College essay work:

• It has a compelling hook. The first few sentences about the applicant's multicultural and multilingual family immediately draw us in. It makes you want to learn more about why this applicant gets told happy birthday in three languages, and how their experience shapes their values.
• It's highly specific and detailed. We're given people's actual names, from Uncle Guillermo to Anisa Saad. These concrete details ground us readers in the story while highlighting clear connections between the applicant's life experiences and values.

Boston College Essay Example 2

This next real Boston College essay example is less focused on diversity and more on community service, a major Jesuit value that Boston College would be more than happy to read about in your essay!

At just under 400 words, this essay should help give you an idea of about how long your Boston College essay can be.

"Can you teach me how to tie my shoes?" I looked down. There was Miguel. He pointed at his untied shoelaces. "Come sit down over here," I said as I pulled over a chair. "Just remember this: Loop, Swoop, and Pull." I tied his shoelace. "Now you try on the other." He bent down. "Loop ... Swoop, and ... Pull." He completed a perfect bow.

Later on in that day, Thomas came over to me. "Can you help me tie my sneaker?" Miguel was next to me. I was helping him learn the letters of the alphabet. "I think Miguel can help you." I looked down at him and he nodded. He brought Thomas to the side. "Just remember, Loop, Swoop, and Pull."

In-between studying for the SATs and preparing for my varsity basketball season, I volunteered in a local preschool for Head Start and Special Needs Children in the summer before my junior year. I worked with students who were attending their first year of the school during that year. I was invited back to volunteer again the next summer. I was with the second-year students and Miguel and Thomas were again in my class.

"Do you want to see me write my name?" Miguel asked the first day of my second summer at the school. He used a purple marker and a blank piece of white paper and clearly wrote "Miguel." Thomas approached me. "Look, I can tie my shoes now." He bent down. "Loop, Swoop, and Pull," he whispered as he completed a perfect bow. "It's great to see you guys again. I'll be here the whole summer."

The goal of the program is to prepare the students for success in kindergarten. The best thing about going to the school for two years was to see the progress Miguel, Thomas, and the other kids made. I saw the children walk on the stage at the graduation ceremony at the end of the summer term. I know they will be able to excel in kindergarten.

I began to visualize Thomas and Miguel being at the top of their class in kindergarten next year. I am proud of the work the school does for the children and the progress the children make in the school. I look forward to returning to volunteer next summer.

• It tells a detailed, interesting story. Many students have volunteered at schools or helped out younger children, but this Boston College essay lets readers really see the uniqueness of the applicant's experience. We learn about two children, Thomas and Miguel, and how the process of helping them fundamentally shaped the applicant.
• It's highly focused. No part of this essay feels extraneous or as if it doesn't belong. It uses a well-organized structure that's easy to follow. We also learn through small details that the applicant successfully maintains other commitments, too, such as varsity basketball. So not only is this person caring, they're also a great multitasker!
• It focuses on a key Jesuit value: giving back to others. If you plan to respond to Prompt 4, this is a great essay to look to for tips. It's all about helping the common good and highlights the applicant's desire to continue helping the community.

How to Write a Great Boston College Essay: 4 Tips

Before we wrap up, here are four general tips to help you write a great Boston College essay.

#1: Be Clear and Specific

Your Boston College essay should be clear and have specific, concrete details that tell a compelling narrative about you and what you value. Your essay will have more personal impact if you can incorporate critical details, such as the names of people, your reactions/emotions to events or actions, etc.

In addition, make sure your story is focused and doesn't meander onto less relevant, less interesting, or less significant topics.

For instance, if you're writing about how you enjoy volunteering at retirement homes, there's no point in elaborating on other values you have or other service projects you're involved in since doing so will take away from the main focus of your essay.

#2: Speak Honestly About Embracing Jesuit Values

As with any college essay, be authentic. Exaggerations and lies are pretty easy for admissions committees to detect, so don't bother trying to make a particular experience in your life seem more significant than it really was.

Be honest with yourself: what's important to you? What do you believe Boston College must know about you? And what do you feel defines who you are and what you want to do?

Remember that Boston College is a Jesuit school that strongly values specific qualities, including morality, honesty, and community service. If you have a strong passion for any Jesuit values and often exercise them in your life, make sure you're talking about them to emphasize how Boston College is an ideal fit for you.

#3: Don't Repeat What You Wrote for the Common App Essay

All Boston College applicants must write a separate personal statement that responds to one of the Common App prompts . Since many of the Common App prompts are similar to the Boston College essay prompts listed above, it's critical that you do not repeat any major themes or topics in your two essays.

Each essay is meant to showcase a different side of you, and if you're simply repeating yourself, you won't be revealing new and interesting aspects of your personality—which will not impress the Boston College admissions committee!

#4: Edit and Proofread Multiple Times

You'll want to spend a good amount of time editing and proofreading your Boston College essay.

The best way to do this is to write a rough draft and then put it away for a few days. After some time has passed, take out your essay so you can look it over with a fresh perspective. Note any areas that are irrelevant, awkward, or grammatically incorrect.

Once you've done this a few times, give your essay to someone else to read, such as a teacher, parent, or older sibling. Ask for feedback on what you can improve in terms of flow, organization, and overall story.

Now should now have an excellent Boston College essay ready to submit!

What's Next?

If you're applying to Boston College, you're likely applying to other colleges on the East Coast, too. Check out our expert guides to the Duke essay , the Tufts essays , and the Harvard essay .

Need help writing your Common App essay? Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants!

To learn more about Boston College, including what GPA and SAT/ACT scores you'll need to get in, check out our Boston College admission requirements page .

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now :

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Boston College | BC

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Boston College | BC?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Boston College | BC’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short response.

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts (400 word limit). Applicants to the Human-Centered Engineering major will select the fifth prompt.

1. Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read and why would this be an important shared text?

2. At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

3. In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

4. Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

5. Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Boston College’s Supplemental Essays

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date September 1, 2023
• No Comments on Boston College’s Supplemental Essays

Boston College offers four supplemental essay choices for 2023-2024 applicants. This flexibility is a fantastic opportunity for students to highlight their specific strengths and personality. Applicants must respond to one of the prompts #1-4, unless they’re applying for the Human-Centered Engineering major, in which case they must respond to prompt #5 only.

With a word limit of 400, this supplemental essay allows for a bit more creativity while still ensuring applicants demonstrate their ability to formulate clear and concise responses.

All four options touch upon the applicant’s ability to engage with social issues through a personal lens. Supplemental essays provide students a chance to stand out through sharing their unique perspective and individual interests.

Boston College is considered a top Jesuit educational institution . While students do not need to be religious to attend, Jesuit colleges share a set of key values including justice, care, and collaboration. When writing this supplemental essay, think about how you connect with one or more of these values, and relate your answer to these life experiences.

Boston College’s Supplemental Essays

1. Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?

2. At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

3. In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

4. Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

5. Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Are you aiming for Boston College ? Not sure how to approach these questions strategically? Contact us to discuss our Essay Guidance Program or Personal Boot Camp .

By working on your applications NOW, you will be ready to reap the benefit of increased odds in the early round of admissions. Top Tier Admissions is tracking supplemental essay prompts for all top schools here — we look forward to supporting you !

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